Mealtime TV Use Is Associated with Higher Discretionary Food Intakes in Young Australian Children: A Two-Year Prospective Study

Abstract

Background: Mealtime television use has been cross-sectionally associated with suboptimal diets in children. This study aimed to assess the two-year prospective association between baseline mealtime television use and subsequent diets in young children, and identify socioeconomic differences. Methods: Parents reported their child’s television use at meals, and fruit, vegetable, and discretionary food intakes. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses assessed the association between baseline mealtime television use and follow-up diet outcomes. Differences were assessed by socioeconomic position. Results: Participants were 352 Australian parents of children aged six months to six years. Daily mealtime television use (average frequency/day) was associated with higher daily frequency of discretionary food intakes (β 0.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07–0.67) at the 2-year follow-up. Individually, television use during breakfast and dinner (1–2 days/week compared to never) predicted higher daily intake frequency of discretionary food, β 0.36 (95% CI 0.12–0.60) and β 0.19 (95% CI 0.00–0.39), respectively. Similarly, 3–7 days/week of television use during breakfast and lunch predicted higher frequency of discretionary food intake, β 0.18 (95% CI 0.02–0.37) and β 0.31 (95% CI 0.07–0.55), respectively. Associations were not socioeconomically patterned. Conclusions: Investigating mealtime television use motivators across the socioeconomic spectrum could inform interventions targeting the high consumption of discretionary foods in children.

Mothers’ experiences of reducing family mealtime screen use in Australian households with young children

“…Previous research has identified cross-sectional associations between eating at a table and better dietary and psychosocial outcomes in children ( 43 , 44 ) . Likewise, emerging prospective evidence suggested that the relationship between children’s mealtime TV use and later intakes of discretionary foods differed by mealtime location ( 18 ) . Families were also able to utilise meal location to set screen use boundaries and implement new mealtime expectations, such as ‘no screens at the table’.…”

“…Additionally, children from families of lower SEP may be most likely to engage in mealtime screen use (16) . Evidence suggests that mealtime screen use reduces opportunities for family cohesion at mealtimes (17) , and cross-sectional (11) and 2-year prospective evidence (18) suggests that children's diets are poorer when screens are included in family meals. Qualitative research with diverse (19) and low-income (20) families has also found that many parents acknowledge mealtime screen use as not aligning with best practice eating environments and that turning the TV off would improve family communication and connection.…”