Information and Communication Technologies Use and the Relationship with Obesity in Cuban youth

Abstract

This study analyzes the influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) use on the increase of overweight and obesity in Cuban youth. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a systematic literature review following PRISMA 2020 guidelines with descriptive statistical analysis of physical fitness assessments in a convenience sample of 176 Cuban high school graduates. Systematic searches were conducted in Scopus, SciELO, Science Direct and MEDLINE/PubMed databases (January 2020-February 2024). Eligibility criteria followed the PICOS framework, prioritizing studies on youth (10-24 years) examining ICT-obesity relationships, with special attention to the Cuban context. Physical fitness was evaluated using standardized tests from the twelfth-grade physical education program, assessing general resistance, travel speed, arm strength, explosive strength of lower limbs and abdominal resistance strength. Statistical analysis included measures of central tendency, dispersion, distribution shape and 95% confidence intervals. The systematic review included 10 studies meeting all eligibility criteria. Current epidemiological data indicate that 24% of the Cuban population presents obesity (2024), with projections exceeding 5.53 million affected by 2030. In physical fitness evaluations, only 38.64% of young people passed the tests, with 61.36% classified in the poor category. Descriptive analysis revealed particularly low performance in general resistance (mean=3.12/5, SD=0.36) and arm strength (mean=25.87 repetitions, SD=6.62). Negative skewness coefficients across all abilities indicated concentration of results at higher scale values, while kurtosis values near zero suggested approximately normal distributions. ICTs constitute an emerging obesogenic factor that interacts with social, economic and cultural determinants in the Cuban context. The poor physical fitness results confirm the serious impact of technological sedentary lifestyles on youth health. Urgent multisectoral strategies integrating physical education, technological and food policies are required to counteract these negative effects.