Longitudinal relationship between screen time, cardiorespiratory fitness, and waist circumference of children and adolescents: a 3-year cohort study

Purpose The aim of this study was to examine the interaction between screen time and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in their longitudinal association with waist circumference (WC) during a follow-up of 3 years from childhood to adolescence. Methods Observational 3-year longitudinal study with 401 students (224 females), seven to 15 years of age at baseline. The CRF was evaluated by estimating peak oxygen uptake (VO 2peak ) from an indirect field-based test and body mass index. Screen time was assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Moderation analyses were tested using a multiple linear regression model with adjustments for sex, age, puberty stage, and ethnicity. Results A statistically significant interaction term was observed (B = -0.0003; 95% CI: -0.007; -0.0001). Since screen time was contextualized as the independent variable, the results show that relationship between screen time and WC varies across different CRF levels. Conclusion The findings suggest that higher CRF can attenuate the harmful association that increased sedentary behavior might have on abdominal adiposity.