HYGIENIC ASSESSMENT OF SCREEN-TIME EATING HABITS AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN THE DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ERA AND ITS IMPACT ON SOMATIC HEALTH

Abstract

This article examines the phenomenon of screen-time eating — the habit of consuming food while using digital devices — among adolescents aged 11–17, and provides a hygienic assessment of its effects on somatic health. Based on a questionnaire survey and anthropometric measurements conducted among secondary school students in Tashkent, the prevalence of distracted eating, its relationship with dietary quality, and associations with overweight, gastrointestinal disorders, and sleep disturbances were analyzed. Results demonstrated that the majority of adolescents regularly eat while using screens, which correlates significantly with excessive caloric intake, poor food choices, and adverse somatic health outcomes. Practical recommendations for reducing screen-time eating were developed for school health programs.