Time use in daily activities by Chilean overweight and obese adolescents

Introduction: Obesity is a global serious public health issue. According to the World Health Organization, insufficient physical activity and increased sedentary behaviors are the leading causes of this condition. Objective: To compare the time that overweight/obese and normal-weight adolescents spend in daily activities according to sex and the type of school they attend. Materials and methods: Quantitative and analytical research. 106 Chilean teenagers were assessed to determine their nutrition diagnosis based on their weight, height, pubertal development (Tanner stages) and body mass index. A written survey was used to collect data on how they spend their time in different activities during a typical day on weekdays. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, in which two non-parametric samples are compared. Results: Statistically significant differences regarding the distribution of the time that adolescents devote to engaging in social participation and leisure time activities were observed: overweight/obese teenagers spend less time in these activities. Conclusion: the way that adolescents use their time could be considered as a risk factor for obesity that requires a deeper analysis. Overweight and obese adolescents have a low participation rate in social participation and leisure activities. Undoubtedly, how time is spent is increasingly regarded as a well-being indicator; therefore, further research should focus on the effectiveness of interventions based on the modification of daily routines.