The Association of Television Viewing with Snacking Behavior and Body Weight of Young Adults

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confidence: 99%

Television watching from adolescence to adulthood and its association with BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and obesity: a longitudinal study

Mamun

O’Callaghan

Williams

et al. 2012

“…However, very few studies have addressed whether the effect of eating meals during television viewing is over and above that of the overall time spent television watching. The two studies on whether the effect of eating meals during television viewing on body weights is over and above the effect of overall time spent television watching came to seemingly contradictory conclusions (19,20) . A better understanding of the independent importance of television watching and eating while watching television is essential to directing new public programmes to promote healthy eating and to prevent obesity.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Observational studies and randomized controlled trials have shown that such advertisements increase children's preference for the advertised foods (16,17) . Television viewing also provides the opportunity to snack (18)(19)(20) , which may increase energy intake (21) . In addition, eating meals in front of the television instead of with the family in a structured setting diminishes the nutritional and psychosocial benefits of family meals (22)(23)(24) .…”

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confidence: 99%

Nutrition and body weights of Canadian children watching television and eating while watching television

Liang

Kuhle

Veugelers

2009

Objective: To examine whether eating while watching television poses a risk for poor nutrition and excess body weight over and above that of time spent watching television. Design: We analysed data of grade 5 students participating in a comprehensive population-based survey in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. This survey included the Harvard's Youth Food Frequency Questionnaire, students' height and weight measurements, and a parent survey. We applied multivariable linear and logistic random effects models to quantify the associations of watching television and eating while watching television with diet quality and body weight. Setting: The province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Subjects: Grade 5 students (n 4966). Results: Eating supper while watching television negatively affected the consumption of fruits and vegetables and overall diet quality. More frequent supper while watching television was associated with more soft drink consumption, a higher percentage energy intake from sugar out of total energy from carbohydrate, a higher percentage energy intake from fat, and a higher percentage energy intake from snack food. These associations appeared independent of time children spent watching television. Both watching television and eating while watching television were positively and independently associated with overweight. Conclusions: Our observations suggest that both sedentary behaviours from time spent watching television as well as poor nutrition as a result of eating while watching television contribute to overweight in children. They justify current health promotion targeting time spent watching television and call for promotion of family meals as a means to avoid eating in front of the television.

“…It is likely that parents and siblings may act as role models to encourage children to consume novel food and beverages (20,22,23) . A parent can control his/her child's sweetened beverage consumption by placing restrictions on the number of soft drinks permitted each day (25,26) , limiting the accessibility of regular soft drinks in the home and limiting participation in sedentary behaviours such as viewing television (27) . Evidence also suggests that imposing stringent parental controls can lead to preferences for energy-dense foods and drinks, such as sweetened beverages (20,21,23) .…”

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confidence: 99%

Sociodemographic, behavioural and environmental correlates of sweetened beverage consumption among pre-school children

Pabayo

Spence

Cutumisu

et al. 2012

AbstractObjectiveTo identify sociodemographic and environmental correlates of sweetened beverages (regular soft drinks, fruit juice) among children of pre-school age.DesignChildren's dietary intake, food behaviours and screen time were measured by parental report. A Geographic Informational System was used to assess the number of grocery stores and fast-food restaurants available within 1 km of the children's residence. Multivariate log-binomial regression models were constructed to determine correlates of drinking soft drinks during the previous week.SettingEdmonton region, Canada.SubjectsChildren aged 4 and 5 years (n2114) attending a public health unit for immunization were recruited for a cohort study on determinants of childhood obesity, between 2005 and 2007.ResultsChildren from neighbourhoods with low socio-economic status (relative risk (RR) = 1·17, 95 % CI 0·98, 1·40) or who participated in >2 h of screen time daily (RR = 1·28, 95 % CI 1·13, 1·45) were significantly more likely to have consumed regular soft drinks within the last week. Those who lived within 1 km of a grocery store were significantly less likely to consume regular soft drinks (RR = 0·84, 95 % CI 0·73, 0·96). Children who participated in >2 h of screen time daily (RR = 1·16, 95 % CI 1·06, 1·27) were more likely to exceed the recommended weekly number of servings of fruit juice.ConclusionsSocio-economic and built environment factors are associated with soft drink consumption in children of pre-school age. These findings may help health professionals to advocate for policies that reduce soft drink consumption among children.