School programs modestly reduced screen time; body mass index effects remained unclear
Trials in schoolchildren found modest screen-time reductions and increased physical activity with school-based programs. Evidence was generally low certainty, and the overall effect on body mass index remained inconclusive.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
School-based programs aimed at reducing screen time produced modest reductions in screen use and increases in physical activity across the reviewed trials. The pooled result did not clearly establish a change in body mass index. High risk of bias and substantial differences between studies reduced confidence in most outcomes.
Most outcomes had low-certainty evidence because of study bias and inconsistent findings. The abstract does not describe intervention lengths or control conditions, and its standardized effects cannot be interpreted as minutes of screen time saved.
Behavior and body mass index
Screen use and physical activity changed in the expected directions, but the pooled body mass index result was inconclusive. Improvements in these behavioral measures therefore should not be presented as established improvements in body mass index.
The subgroup finding was narrower
Programs addressing broader lifestyle habits appeared to reduce body mass index slightly, while screen-time-focused programs showed no detected difference. This subgroup pattern does not establish that the broader programs were superior in a direct comparison.
The original publication
Review Article: The effectiveness of school-based interventions for reducing screen time - a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lai NM, Lim YS, Chaiyakunapruk N et al.
Child Adolesc Ment Health · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40660635
- Record checked
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