Prevalence and Demographic Correlates of Overweight, Physical Activity, and Screen Time Among School-Aged Children in Urban China: The Shanghai Study

This study reports the prevalence and demographic correlates of overweight, as well as meeting physical activity and screen time guidelines, in Chinese children. A representative sample of school-aged children ( n = 49 549) in Shanghai were participants. Children's anthropometrics were objectively measured; their physical activity and screen time, and demographic variables including age, sex, skill proficiency, sport affiliation, and transportation mode were self-reported. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. The prevalence of overweight was 24.9%, meeting physical activity guidelines was 20.5%, and meeting screen time guidelines was 73.5%. Boys (odds ratio [OR] = 1.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.50-1.71) had higher overweight prevalence than girls. Girls (OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.85-0.97) and those without sport affiliation (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.42-0.54) were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations than their counterparts. Girls were more likely than boys to meet screen time recommendations (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.22-1.37). Children's sex, sport affiliation, and skill proficiency are factors that policymakers can use to improve body weight status, physical activity participation, and screen time.