The Mediating Role of Screen-Based Sedentary Behaviors in the Association of Parental Educational Level and BMI with Preschoolers’ Ultra-Processed Food Consumption
Background/Objectives: The mediating role of the diverse range of screen-based sedentary behaviors (SBs) remains understudied, particularly at younger ages. The present study examined the direct and indirect effects of parental BMI and education on ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption among presch...
| Autores: | , , , , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2026 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Conselleria de Salut i Consum del Govern de les Illes Balears |
| Repositorio: | Docusalut |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:dnet:docusalut___::b1c3f7bf97be16b9c415cf71f270723f |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13003/27198 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Body Mass Index Child Child, Preschool Cross-Sectional Studies Educational Status Fast Foods Feeding Behavior Female Food, Processed Humans Male Parents Pediatric Obesity Screen Time Sedentary Behavior Television Índice de Masa Corporal Niño Preescolar Estudios Transversales Escolaridad Comida Rápida Conducta Alimentaria Femenino Alimentos Procesados Humanos Masculino Padres Obesidad Infantil Tiempo de Pantalla Conducta Sedentaria Televisión mediation analysis parental BMI preschool children screen time ultra-processed foods |
| Sumario: | Background/Objectives: The mediating role of the diverse range of screen-based sedentary behaviors (SBs) remains understudied, particularly at younger ages. The present study examined the direct and indirect effects of parental BMI and education on ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption among preschoolers, testing the potential mediating role of screen time. Methods: The cross-sectional study sample comprised 919 kindergarten children (484 boys, 52.7%), with ages ranging from 2.2 to 6.8 years (mean: 4.7 ± 1.0 years). Screen-based sedentary behaviors (television viewing, smartphone use, tablet use, computer use, and playing electronic games) were measured by proxy-report fulfilled by parents, separately for weekdays and weekends. UPF consumption (drinks/yogurts, packaged/fast foods, and sweet/salty snacks) was assessed via 24 h recall scales. Path analysis mediation models tested direct effects of maternal/paternal BMI and education on UPF intake, and indirect effects through screen time, controlling for child age and sex. Results: Lower parental education and higher parental BMI were associated with increased mobile device use and UPF consumption (r = 0.10–0.28). Screen-based sedentary behaviors mediated the association between maternal BMI and UPF pathways (15–90% of total effects), particularly for sweet and salty snacks (50–90%). Parental education effects were also mediated by screen time (9–23% indirect effects), with paternal education showing stronger protection against packaged/fast foods. Conclusions: Mobile devices and watching television partially mediate intergenerational transmission of obesogenic dietary patterns from parental BMI/education to preschoolers’ UPF consumption. Findings of the current study support family-centered interventions targeting screen-time limits and UPF exposure, mainly at the weekends, to prevent early obesity trajectories. |
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