Longitudinal associations between screen time and whole-body adiposity during the first decade of life: insights from the GUSTO cohort

A recent publication from the GUSTO cohort (Singapore) investigated the longitudinal relationship between early childhood screen time and later body composition during the first decade of life. The study followed 935 children, assessing screen exposure at ages 2–3 years and tracking adiposity outcomes between ages 4 and 10 years using multiple methods, including BMI, skinfold thicknesses, and whole-body fat percentage measured with air displacement plethysmography.

Body composition assessment included the use of the COSMED BOD POD system, a validated gold-standard method for measuring body fat percentage.

While no overall association was observed in the full cohort, results showed a sex-specific effect: among boys, higher screen time, particularly television viewing, was associated with increased whole-body fat percentage over time. No significant associations were found in girls or for handheld device use.

These findings highlight the importance of early lifestyle factors in shaping body composition trajectories and reinforce the value of precise body composition assessment tools in longitudinal pediatric research.

The COSMED BOD POD continues to provide reliable, non-invasive and highly accurate assessment of body composition, supporting high-quality research in clinical and epidemiological settings.