Physical activity recommendations for adolescents with overweight, high screen time, and low social support – A scoping review
References
- Alberga, A. S., Medd, E. R., Adamo, K. B., Goldfield, G. S, Prud’homme, D., Kenny, G. P., & Sigal, R. J. (2013). Top 10 practical lessons learned from physical activity interventions in overweight and obese children and adolescents. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 38(3), 249–258. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2012-0227.
- Alotaibi, T., Almuhanna, R., Alhassan, J., Alqadhib, E., Mortada, E., & Alwhaibi, R. (2020). The relationship between technology use and physical activity among typically-developing children. Healthcare, 8(4), 488. doi: 10.3390/healthcare8040488.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. (2025). Screen time for teenagers. Retrieved June 6, 2025 from https://www.aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/screen-time-for-teenagers.
- Andrade, S., Verloigne, M., Cardon, G., Kolsteren, P., Ochoa-Avilés, A., Verstraeten, R., Donoso, S., & Lachat, C. (2015). School-based intervention on healthy behaviour among Ecuadorian adolescents: Effect of a cluster-randomized controlled trial on screen-time. BMC Public Health, 15, 942. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-2274-4.
- Angeles, P., Cruz, M., Mendoza, C., Pamintuan, M., Lacson, J. C., Ignacio, K. R., Espinosa, D., & Galang, J. R. F. (2024). Barriers and coping strategies among obese and overweight learners: Sequential explanatory study. International Journal of Multidisciplinary Applied Business and Education Research, 5(5), 1641–1661. doi: 10.11594/ijmaber.05.05.16.
- Arksey, H., & O’Malley, L. (2005). Scoping studies: Towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 8, 19–32. doi: 10.1080/1364557032000119616.
- Aubert, S., Brazo-Sayavera, J., González, S. A., Janssen, I., Manyanga, T., Oyeyemi, A. L., Picard, P., Sherar, L. B., Turner, E., & Tremblay, M. S. (2021). Global prevalence of physical activity for children and adolescents: Inconsistencies, research gaps, and recommendations: A narrative review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18, 81.
- Bauer, A., Stevens, M., Purtscheller, D., Knapp, M., Fonagy, P., Evans-Lacko, S., & Paul, J. (2021). Mobilising social support to improve mental health for children and adolescents: A systematic review using principles of realist synthesis. PloS One, 16(5), e0251750. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251750.
- Bronfenbrenner, U. (2005). Making human beings human: Bioecological perspectives on human development. Sage Publications.
- Chaput, J. P., Willumsen, J., Bull, F., Chou, R., Ekelund, U., Firth, J., Jago, R., Ortega, F. B., & Katzmarzyk, P. T. (2020). 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour for children and adolescents: Summary of the evidence. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17, 141. doi: 10.1186/s12966-020-01037-z.
- Chen, J., Bai, Y., & Ni, W. (2023). Reasons and promotion strategies of physical activity constraints in obese/overweight children and adolescents. Sports Medicine and Health Science, 6(1), 25–36. doi: 10.1016/j.smhs.2023.10.004.
- Davis, C. L., Tomporowski, P. D., McDowell, J. E., Austin, B. P., Miller, P. H., Yanasak, N. E., Allison, J. D., & Naglieri, J. A. (2011). Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: A randomized, controlled trial. Health Psychology, 30(1), 91–98. doi: 10.1037/a0021766.
- Deforche, B., Haerens, L., & de Bourdeaudhuij I. (2011). How to make overweight children exercise and follow the recommendations. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 6(Suppl. 1)35–41. doi: 10.3109/17477166.2011.583660.
- Direito, A., Jiang, Y., Whittaker, R., & Maddison, R. (2015). Apps for improving fitness and increasing physical activity among young people: The AIMFIT pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 17(8), e210. doi: 10.2196/jmir.4568.
- Fiorilli, G., Iuliano, E., Aquino, G., Campanella, E., Tsopani, D., Di Costanzo, A., Calcagno, G., & di Cagno, A. (2017). Different consecutive training protocols to design an intervention program for overweight youth: A controlled study. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity: Targets and Therapy, 10, 37–45. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S122110.
- García-Hermoso, A., Cerrillo-Urbina, A. J., Herrera-Valenzuela, T., Cristi-Montero, C., Saavedra J. M., & Martínez-Vizcaíno V. (2016). Is high-intensity interval training more effective on improving cardiometabolic risk and aerobic capacity than other forms of exercise in overweight and obese youth? A meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews, 17(6), 531–540. doi: 10.1111/obr.12395.
- García-Hermoso, A., Ramírez-Vélez, R., Ramírez-Campillo, R., Peterson, M. D., & Martínez-Vizcaíno, V. (2018). Concurrent aerobic plus resistance exercise versus aerobic exercise alone to improve health outcomes in pediatric obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 52(3), 161–166. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096605.
- Gavela-Pérez, T., Parra-Rodríguez, A., Vales-Villamarín, C., Pérez-Segura, P., Mejorado-Molano, F. J., Garcés, C., & Soriano-Guillén, L. (2023). Relationship between eating habits, sleep patterns and physical activity and the degree of obesity in children and adolescents. Endocrinología, Diabetes y Nutrición, 70(Suppl. 3), 10–17. doi: 10.1016/j.endien.2023.08.001.
- Gill, M., Chan-Golston, A. M., Rice, L. N., Roth, S. E., Crespi, C. M., Cole, B. L., Koniak-Griffin, D., & Prelip, M. L. (2018). Correlates of social support and its association with physical activity among young adolescents. Health Education Behavior, 45(2), 207–216. doi: 10.1177/1090198117714826.
- Haghjoo, P., Siri, G., Soleimani, E., Farhangi, M. A., & Alesaeidi, S. (2022). Screen time increases overweight and obesity risk among adolescents: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 161. doi: 10.1186/s12875-022-01761-4.
- Hamano, T., Li, X., Sundquist, J., & Sundquist, K. (2017). Association between childhood obesity and neighbourhood accessibility to fast-food outlets: A nationwide 6-year follow-up study of 944,487 children. Obesity Facts, 10(6), 559–568. doi: 10.1159/000481352.
- Herbert, C. (2022). Enhancing mental health, well-being and active lifestyles of university students by means of physical activity and exercise research programs. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 849093. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.849093.
- Hu, D., Zhou, S., Crowley-McHattan, Z. J., & Liu, Z. (2021). Factors that influence participation in physical activity in school-aged children and adolescents: A systematic review from the social ecological model perspective. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 3147. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18063147.
- Inchley, J., Currie, D., Budisavljevic, S., Torsheim, T., Jåstad, A., Cosma, A., Kelly, C., & Arnarsson, A. M. (2020). Spotlight on adolescent health and well-being: Findings from the 2017/2018 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) survey in Europe and Canada. Key Findings (Vol. 1). World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe.
- Jones, A., Armstrong, B., Weaver, R. G., Parker, H., von Klinggraeff, L., & Beets, M. W. (2021). Identifying effective intervention strategies to reduce children’s screen time: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18(1), 126. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01189-6.
- Khan, A., Uddin, R., & Burton, N. W. (2018). Insufficient physical activity in combination with high screen time is associated with adolescents’ psychosocial difficulties. International Health, 10(4), 246–251. doi: 10.1093/inthealth/ihy019.
- Kondo, M. C., Oyekanmi, K. O., Gibson, A., South, E. C., Bocarro, J., & Hipp, J. A. (2020). Nature prescriptions for health: A review of evidence and research opportunities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(12), 4213. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17124213.
- Laird, Y., Fawkner, S., & Niven, A. (2018). A grounded theory of how social support influences physical activity in adolescent girls. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 13(1), 1435099. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2018.1435099.
- Lin, H., Chen, H., Liu, Q., Xu, J., & Li, S. (2024). A meta-analysis of the relationship between social support and physical activity in adolescents: The mediating role of self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, 1305425. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1305425.
- Lubans, D. R., Plotnikoff, R. C., & Lubans, N. J. (2012). A systematic review of the impact of physical activity programmes on social and emotional well-being in at-risk youth. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 17(1), 2–13. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00042.
- Lubans, D. R., Smith, J. J., Skinner, G., & Morgan, P. J. (2014). Development and implementation of a smartphone application to promote physical activity and reduce screen-time in adolescent boys. Frontiers in Public Health, 2, 42. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00042.
- Maitland, C., Stratton, G., Foster, S., Braham, R., & Rosenberg, M. (2013). A place for play? The influence of the home physical environment on children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviour. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 10, 99. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-10-99.
- Moore, R., Vernon, T., Gregory, M., & Freeman, E. L. (2023). Facilitators and barriers to physical activity among English adolescents in secondary schools: A mixed method study. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1235086. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1235086.
- Nagata, J. M., Chu, J., Ganson, K. T., Murray, S. B., Iyer, P., Gabriel, K. P., Garber, A. K., Bibbins-Domingo, K., & Baker F. C. (2023a). Contemporary screen time modalities and disruptive behavior disorders in children: A prospective cohort study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 64(1), 125–135. doi: 10.1111/jcpp.13673.
- Nagata, J. M., Smith, N., Alsamman, S., Lee, C. M., Dooley, E. E., Kiss, O., Ganson, K. T., Wing, D., Baker, F. C. & Gabriel, K. P. (2023b). Association of physical activity and screen time with body mass index among US adolescents. JAMA Network Open, 6(2), e2255466. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.55466.
- Namysłowska, I. (2013). Zdrowie psychiczne dzieci i młodzieży w Polsce–stan rozwoju opieki psychiatrycznej i zadania na przyszłość. Postępy Nauk Medycznych, 1, 4–9.
- Ofcom. (2020). Children and parents: Media use and attitudes report 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2025 from https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/research-and-data/media-literacy-research/children/childrens-media-literacy-2019/children-media-use-attitudes-2019-report.pdf.
- Oreskovic, N. M., Perrin, J. M., Robinson, A. I., Locascio, J. J., Blossom, J., Chen, M. L., Winickoff, J. P., Field A. E., Green, C., & Goodman, E. (2015). Adolescents’ use of the built environment for physical activity. BMC Public Health, 15, 251. doi: 10.1186/s12889-015-1596-6.
- Pascoe, M., Bailey, A. P., Craike, M., Carter, T., Patten, R., Stepto, N., & Parker, A. (2020). Physical activity and exercise in youth mental health promotion: A scoping review. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1), e000677. doi: 0.1136/bmjsem-2019-000677.
- Pescud, M., Pettigrew, S., McGuigan, M. R., & Newton, R. U. (2010). Factors influencing overweight children’s commencement of and continuation in a resistance training program. BMC Public Health, 10, 709. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-709.
- Puhl, R. M., & Luedicke, J. (2012). Weight-based victimization among adolescents in the school setting: Emotional reactions and coping behaviors. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41(1), 27–40. doi: 10.1007/s10964-011-9713-z.
- Qiu, L. T., Sun, G. X., Li, L., Zhang, J. D., Wang, D., & Fan, B. Y. (2022). Effectiveness of multiple eHealth-delivered lifestyle strategies for preventing or intervening overweight/obesity among children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 13, 999702. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.999702.
- Salvy, S. J., de la Haye, K., Bowker, J. C., & Hermans, R. C. J. (2012). Influence of peers and friends on children’s and adolescents’ eating and activity behaviors. Physiology & Behavior, 106(3), 369–378. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.03.022.
- Schoeppe, S., Alley, S., Van Lippevelde, W., Bray, N. A., Williams, S. L., Duncan, M. J., & Vandelanotte, C. (2016). Efficacy of interventions that use apps to improve diet, physical activity and sedentary behaviour: A systematic review. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 13, 127. doi: 10.1186/s12966-016-0454-y.
- Serrano-Sanchez, J. A., Martí-Trujillo, S., Lera-Navarro, A., Dorado-García, C., Gonzalez-Henríquez, J. J., & Sanchís-Moysi, J. (2011). Associations between screen time and physical activity among Spanish adolescents. PloS One, 6(9), e24453. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024453.
- Sikorska, I. M., Lipp, N., Wróbel, P., & Wyra, M. (2021). Adolescent mental health and activities in the period of social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii, 30(2), 79–95. doi: 10.5114/ppn.2021.108472.
- Styne, D. M., Arslanian, S. A., Connor, E. L., Farooqi, I. S., Murad, M. H., Silverstein, J. H., & Yanovski, J. A. (2017). Pediatric obesity – assessment, treatment, and prevention: An Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 102(3), 709–757. doi: 10.1210/jc.2016-2573.
- Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O’Brien, K. K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., Moher, D., Peters, M. D. J., Horsley, T., Weeks, L., Hempel, S., Akl, E. A., Chang, C., McGowan, J., Stewart, L., Hartling, L., Aldcroft, A., Wilson, M. G., Garritty, C., & Straus, S. E. (2018). PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and explanation. Annals of Internal Medicine, 169, 467–473. doi: 10.7326/M18-0850.
- Tully, L., Arthurs, N., Wyse, Browne, S., Case, L., McCrea, L., O’Connell, J. M., O’Gorman, C. S., Smith, S. M., Walsh, A., Ward, F., & O’Malley, G. (2022). Guidelines for treating child and adolescent obesity: A systematic review. Frontiers in Nutrition, 9, 902865. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.902865.
- van Sluijs, E. M. F., Ekelund, U., Crochemore-Silva, I., Guthold, R., Ha, A., Lubans, D., Oyeyemi, A. L., Ding, D., & Katzmarzyk, P. T. (2021). Physical activity behaviours in adolescence: Current evidence and opportunities for intervention. The Lancet, 398(10298), 429–442. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01259-9.
- Warburton, D. E., Nicol, C. W., & Bredin, S. S. (2006). Health benefits of physical activity: The evidence. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 174(6), 801–809. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.051351.
- Wheatley, C., Wassenaar, T., Salvan, P., Beale, N., Nichols, T., Dawes, H., & Johansen-Berg, H. (2020). Associations between fitness, physical activity and mental health in a community sample of young British adolescents: Baseline data from the fit to study trial. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 6(1), e000819. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000819.
- World Health Organization. (2020). WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour (online available). WHO. Retrieved April 8, 2025 from https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/336656/9789240015128-eng.pdf? sequence=1.
- World Health Organization. (2025). Mental health of adolescents. Retrieved February 2, 2025 from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health.
- Wu, X., Tao, S., Zhang, Y., Zhang, S., & Tao, F. (2015). Low physical activity and high screen time can increase the risks of mental health problems and poor sleep quality among Chinese college students. PloS One, 10(3), e0119607. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119607.
- Yuan, Y., Ratanawijitrasin, S., Li, C., & Lamy, F. R. (2025). The association between social environment factors and physical activity engagement among Chinese adolescents. Discover Social Science and Health, 5, 90. doi: 10.1007/s44155-025-00246-w.
- Zablotsky, B., Ng, A. E., Black, L. I., Haile, G., Bose, J., Jones, J. R., & Blumberg, S. J. (2025). Associations between screen time use and health outcomes among US teenagers. Preventing Chronic Disease, 22, E38. doi: 10.5888/pcd22.240537.
- Zhang, P., Tang, X., Peng, X., Hao, G., Luo, S., & Liang, X. (2022). Effect of screen time intervention on obesity among children and adolescents: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. Preventive Medicine, 157, 107014. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107014.
- Zhou, J., Song, Y., Ying, J., Zhang, C., Wu, J., Shan, S., Zha, J., Zhou, L., Xiao, W., & Song, P. (2025). Effects of lifestyle interventions on mental health in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. eClinicalMedicine, 81, 103121. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103121.
- Zink, J., Booker, R., Wolff-Hughes, D. L., Allen, N. B., Carnethon, M. R., Alexandria, S. J., & Berrigan, D. (2024). Longitudinal associations of screen time, physical activity, and sleep duration with body mass index in U.S. youth. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 21, 35. doi: 10.1186/s12966-024-01587-6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2026-0011 | Journal eISSN: 2080-2234
Language: English
Page range: 100 - 111
Submitted on: Nov 20, 2025
Accepted on: Apr 2, 2026
Published on: Apr 27, 2026
Published by: University of Physical Education in Warsaw
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 1 issue per year
Keywords:
Related subjects:
© 2026 Marlena Łopatka, Michał Bronikowski, Małgorzata Bronikowska, Agata Korcz, Maryna Khorkova, Dagny Adamczak, Jana Krzysztoszek, published by University of Physical Education in Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.