Abstract MP15: Television Watching in Mid-Life and Long-Term Diabetes Risk: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Abstract

Background: Prolonged television watching is associated with numerous health problems. However, its long-term impact and its joint effect with other risk factors on the development of diabetes remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of television watching and incident diabetes using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. We used Cox regression models and considered television watching independently and jointly with physical activity, weight status, and family history of diabetes. At baseline (1987-1989), participants self-reported frequency of television watching, leisure-time physical activity, and parental history of diabetes. Body mass index was calculated from measured weight and height and converted into weight status categories. Incident diabetes was defined as having a fasting glucose >126 mg/dL or non-fasting glucose >200 mg/dL, or self-report of a diagnosis of diabetes or diabetes medication with follow-up to 2017. Results: There were 13,127 participants without diabetes at baseline (mean age, 54, 23% black, 56% female). During 21 years of follow-up, there were 4,280 incident cases of diabetes. Compared to those who watched low levels of television, those who watched medium and high levels were more likely to develop diabetes (HRs 1.13 and 1.51, Figure ). Other risk factors combined with television watching jointly increased the risk of incident diabetes. That is, even within categories of physical activity, weight status, and family history, television watching was an independent risk factor for diabetes. Conclusion: Currently, there is substantial debate regarding the health effects of screen-time. Our study suggests prolonged television watching confers substantial long-term risk for diabetes, even in the setting of other major risk factors. Decreasing exposure to television and other screens may be an important target for diabetes prevention.