Computers & technology vs. physical activity : who is winning the battle?

Abstract

Media and technology have been found to be one of the primary leisure-time activities students engage in, yet they may hold negative implications to the physical activity (PA) and weight status of adolescents. This study aims at exploring the PA & media-use tendencies (more specifically TV, computer-use and videogame-use), and Body Mass Index (BMI) of Form 3 Maltese male students (mean age: 13.36, sd: 0.48) by means of questionnaires and focusgroups, collecting both quantitative and qualitative data respectively. This study has revealed a minute relationship, having a weak to no significant association between media-use, PA and BMI of students. A correlation was found between computer & videogame occurrence in the bedroom and hours of individual media-use, as opposed to no correlation for TV. In conclusion of the results attained media & technology may not be as much of culprits as perceived for the obesity epidemic.