Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40082999›Full record

ArticleArchives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique2025

Internet usage elevates elderly obesity: evidence from a difference-in-differences analysis of the broadband China policy.

Lin Guo, Jia Song, Li Yang, Ziyi Wu, Hengzhi Shi, Lixiang Song, Tianmiao Dong, Linlin Yue, Yunwei Li, Ying Liu

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Lin Guo *School of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Baotong West Street, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China.
Jia Song *School of Medicine and Health Management, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
Li YangSchool of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Baotong West Street, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China.
Ziyi WuSchool of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Baotong West Street, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China.
Hengzhi ShiSchool of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Baotong West Street, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China.
Lixiang SongSchool of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Baotong West Street, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China.
Tianmiao DongSchool of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Baotong West Street, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China.
Linlin YueSchool of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Baotong West Street, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China.
Yunwei LiSchool of Management, Shandong Second Medical University, No. 7166, Baotong West Street, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China. liyunwei1982@126.com.
Ying LiuSchool of Humanities and Management, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 260 Baichuan Street, Fuyang District, Hangzhou, 311402, Zhejiang, China. skyliu2171@163.com.

Funding

Doctoral Research Innovation Program (Grant from Shandong Second Medical University. 041174the Research Project of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University 2024RCZXSK06
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe global aging population is rapidly increasing, which has led to a growing prevalence of obesity among the elderly. Body mass index (BMI) is a crucial measure of obesity and is linked to an increased risk of various chronic diseases. At the same time, the widespread use of the internet and digital technologies has significantly influenced the health behaviors and outcomes of the elderly.

objectiveThis study aims to examine the causal relationship between internet usage and BMI among the elderly, addressing a gap in existing research and providing evidence for the development of health policies targeted at the elderly population.

methodsUtilizing China's "Broadband China" strategy as a quasi-natural experiment, we employed a difference-in-differences (DID) approach to analyze panel data from the CHARLS covering the years 2011-2015. By comparing the treatment and control groups before and after the policy's implementation, we identify causal effects.

resultsOur findings indicate that the "Broadband China" strategy significantly increased BMI among the elderly. The mechanisms underlying this effect include reduced sleep duration, decreased physical activity levels, and worsened mental health. Furthermore, the impact of internet usage on obesity is particularly pronounced among urban residents, those without chronic diseases, and individuals with fewer surviving children.

conclusionsPolicy recommendations include promoting healthy internet usage practices, enhancing community-based activity facilities, and providing comprehensive mental health support to mitigate obesity rates and improve health outcomes among the elderly.

Indexed as

“Broadband China” strategyElderly obesityHeterogeneity analysisInternet usageMechanism test

Identifiers

PMID40082999
PMCPMC11905470

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.