Abstract
ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the associations of TV parameters with adiposity in early life.MethodsData were collected as part of the Born in Bradford (BiB) longitudinal birth cohort study. Child TV viewing duration was parent reported, and BMI, the sum of triceps and subscapular skinfolds, and waist circumference were measured at ~12, 18, 24, and 36 months of age in 1,338 children. Mixed effects models were used to quantify adjusted associations of TV viewing duration with adiposity markers, incorporating data from all time points. Linear regression was used to investigate differences in adiposity levels across frequencies of eating meals and snacks while watching TV at age ~24 months and between children who did and did not have a TV in their bedroom at age ~36 months.ResultsEvery 1 h/d of TV viewing was associated with a 0.075‐cm larger (95% CI: 0.0034‐0.15) waist circumference, independent of covariates including sleep duration, dietary factors, and physical activity level. There was no evidence for any other associations.ConclusionsTV viewing duration is independently associated with abdominal adiposity in young children. Limiting TV viewing from an early age may be important for primary prevention of obesity.
Highlights
Sedentary time comprises all low-energy-expenditure sitting, reclining, and lying behaviors that are performed while awake [1]
The average TV viewing duration was 1.3 (1.2) h/d, of which 0.3 (0.5) h/d were viewed after 6 pm
Our results provide evidence that TV viewing is associated with larger waist circumference in early childhood, independent of covariates including sleep duration, unhealthy snacking, fruit and vegetable intake, and physical activity level
Summary
Sedentary time comprises all low-energy-expenditure sitting, reclining, and lying behaviors that are performed while awake [1]. An association (albeit small in magnitude) has consistently been reported between TV viewing duration and higher child adiposity [6,7,8]. This would appear plausible as, by definition, sedentary behavior involves low energy expenditure. Given that studies of total sedentary time have tended to yield null associations [6,7,8], it is conceivable that TV viewing may be associated with higher adiposity not because of accumulated sedentary time per se, but because of coexisting (possibly mediating) obesogenic diet, inactivity, and sleep behaviors [13]. Additional studies are warranted to quantify associations between TV viewing duration and child adiposity while considering the roles of diet, physical activity, and sleep
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