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Couch potatoes or French fries: Are sedentary behaviors associated with body mass index, physical activity, and dietary behaviors among adolescents?

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Abstract

Objective

To describe the demographic characteristics of adolescent boys and girls who engage in three sedentary behaviors (television/video use, computer use, and reading/homework), and to explore how each sedentary activity is associated with body mass index (BMI), dietary behaviors, and leisure time physical activity.

Design

This study draws on data collected from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens), a school-based survey examining personal, behavioral, and socioenvironmental factors that are associated with nutritional intake among adolescents.

Subjects

The study sample consists of 4,746 middle and high school students from 31 public schools in a metropolitan area of the upper Midwest. All students were invited to participate. The overall response rate for Project EAT was 81.5%. Data collection was completed during the 1998-1999 school year.

Statistical analyses

Multivariate linear regression was used for examining associations between independent and dependent variables, controlling for age, race/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. All differences were considered statistically significant at P<.05.

Results

Among boys, television/video use and time spent reading/doing homework were positively associated with BMI (P<.05), whereas for girls television/video and computer use were positively associated with BMI (P<.05). High television/video use among boys and girls was associated with more unhealthful dietary behaviors (eg, increased consumption of soft drinks, fried foods, and snacks) (P<.05). In contrast, time spent reading/doing homework was associated with more healthful dietary behaviors (eg, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables) (P<.05). Leisure time physical activity was not associated with television/video use among boys or girls, but was positively associated with computer use and time spent reading/doing homework (P<.05).

Applications/Conclusions

Messages and advice aimed at reducing time spent in sedentary activities should be targeted at television/video use instead of time spent reading, doing homework, or using a computer. Nutrition education should incorporate messages about the influence of the media and advertising on dietary behaviors.

Section snippets

Study population and study design

This study uses data from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens) 19, 21. The purpose of the larger study was to identify personal, behavioral, and socioenvironmental factors that are associated with nutritional intake among a population-based group of ethnically diverse adolescents. Data for Project EAT were collected during the 1998–1999 school year and included three phases: a) focus groups with adolescents, b) surveys and anthropometric measurements, and c) parent interviews. Two-week test-retest

Demographic variables

Mean number of hours per day participants were engaged in each sedentary activity is presented in Table 1. Boys and girls differed significantly in their sedentary behaviors. Boys spent significantly more time (2.8 hours per day) than girls (2.6 hours per day) with television/videos and computers, while girls spent significantly more time than boys reading and doing homework.

Mean numbers of hours per day spent with each sedentary activity by sociodemographic variables are displayed in Table 2

Discussion

The purpose of the current study was to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of adolescent boys and girls who spend time with various sedentary activities, and to describe how various levels of sedentary behaviors are associated with specific dietary behaviors, BMI, and physical activity.

Boys and girls spent more time watching television/videos than with computers or reading/doing homework. On average, boys spend approximately 15 more minutes per day with television/videos than girls

Implications

  • The present study provides needed information for health professionals and researchers about adolescent health and nutrition. The findings suggest that messages and advice regarding reducing time spent in sedentary activities should be targeted at watching television/videos instead of time spent reading, doing homework, or using a computer.

  • Our findings also lend support to the hypothesis that the association between television viewing and obesity is moderated by increased consumption more than

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grant MCJ-270834 (D. Neumark-Sztainer, principal investigator) from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (Title V, Social Security Act), Heath Resources and Service Administration, US Department of Health and Human Services. Preparation of this manuscript was supported by grant DK-50456 from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

J. Utter, D. Neumark-Sztainer, R. Jeffery, and M. Story are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

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    J. Utter, D. Neumark-Sztainer, R. Jeffery, and M. Story are with the Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

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