Abstract
BackgroundStudies exploring the effect of television viewing on obesity throughout childhood are conflicting. Most studies have been confined to single high-income countries. Our aim was to examine the association between television viewing habits and Body Mass Index (BMI) in adolescents and children in a multicentre worldwide sample.MethodsIn the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children Phase Three, adolescents aged between 12 and 15 years completed questionnaires which included questions on television viewing habits, height and weight. Parents/guardians of children aged between 5 and 8 years completed the same questionnaire on behalf of their children. The questionnaire asked “During a normal week, how many hours a day (24 hours) do you (does your child) watch television?” Responses were categorised as; “short” (<1 hour), “moderate” (1 to ≤3 hours), “long” (3 to ≤5 hours) and “prolonged” (>5 hours).Findings207,672 adolescents from 37 countries and 77,003 children from 18 countries provided data. Daily television viewing in excess of one hour was reported in 89% of adolescents and 79% of children. Compared with adolescents in the short viewing group, those in the moderate, long and prolonged groups had BMIs that were 0.14 kg/m2, 0.21 kg/m2, 0.30 kg/m2 and 0.08 kg/m2, 0.16 kg/m2 and 0.17 kg/m2 larger for females and males respectively (both P<0.001). Compared with children in the short viewing group, those in the moderate, long and prolonged groups had BMIs that were 0.24 kg/m2, 0.34 kg/m2, 0.36 kg/m2 and 0.19 kg/m2, 0.32 kg/m2 and 0.36 kg/m2 larger for females and males respectively (both P<0.001).InterpretationIncreased television viewing hours were positively associated with BMI in both adolescents and children with an apparent dose response effect. These findings extend the evidence that television viewing contributes to increased BMI in childhood.
Highlights
There is increasing concern about the rising prevalence of obesity worldwide and its health implications [1] [2] [3]
Interpretation: Increased television viewing hours were positively associated with Body Mass Index (BMI) in both adolescents and children with an apparent dose response effect. These findings extend the evidence that television viewing contributes to increased BMI in childhood
The cross sectional nature of this study prevents determination of whether these associations are in some way causal or whether television viewing may be a marker of other lifestyle factors that may influence BMI, such as other dietary factors, socioeconomic status, physical activity or other sedentary activities
Summary
There is increasing concern about the rising prevalence of obesity worldwide and its health implications [1] [2] [3]. The rising prevalence of childhood obesity is marked [4] [5] [6] and there are well documented concerns about the future health implications of obesity in childhood [7] [8] [9]. This problem has been identified in low and middle income countries as well as affluent countries [3] [6] [10] [11]. While potential contributors to the problem of childhood obesity are multiple and complex, increasing television viewing in children has been implicated. Our aim was to examine the association between television viewing habits and Body Mass Index (BMI) in adolescents and children in a multicentre worldwide sample
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