The Association of Body Mass Index With Dietary Habits, Screen Time, and Physical Activity Among School Children in Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Background and objective In India, the rising trend of childhood overweight and obesity is observed not only in urban but also in semi-urban and remote settings. Sedentary behavior, unhealthy diets, and screen overexposure are the major contributors to this phenomenon. However, limited evidence exists from geographically underrepresented locations such as Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This study aimed to assess the association of BMI with dietary habits, screen time, and physical activity among school-going children in Sri Vijaya Puram. Materials and methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted during a one-day health camp among 259 school children (Classes 1-10) in a co-educational school in Sri Vijaya Puram. Anthropometric measurements were recorded using standardized tools. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was employed to assess dietary patterns, screen time, fast food and sugary beverage consumption, and physical activity. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics version 27 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). Results Higher BMI was significantly associated with increased screen time, frequent intake of fast foods/sugary beverages, and inadequate physical activity. Notable behavioral variation was seen between weekdays and weekends. Conclusions Modifiable lifestyle behaviors strongly influence BMI. School-based health promotion and parental engagement are essential to curb childhood obesity.