SMART SCREEN EXPOSURE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH ADDICTIVE FOOD BEHAVIOR AND SLEEP DISORDERS IN CHILDREN. WHAT’S BEYOND THE SCENE?

Abstract

Smart screens have considerably changed children's lifestyle and time spent on sedentary habits. This study aimed to assess the association between smart screen exposure, addictive food behavior, and sleep disorder among children. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 632 children aged 6–14 years in Egypt. A structured questionnaire was used to assess screen time, eating behavior, and sleep patterns. The results revealed that 69.6% of the participants had high levels of smart screen exposure. More than half (56%) of the children were obese, and 35.9% showed combined obesity and addictive food behavior. A significant association was found between screen exposure and both sleep disturbances and shortened sleep duration. The study highlights the need for parental guidance and public health strategies to reduce excessive screen exposure and mitigate its negative impact on children's eating habits and sleep quality.