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Screen Time is Associated with Lower Healthy Eating Index (HEI)‐2010 Total Score in Low‐Income Hispanic Pregnant Women in the Starting Early Study
Author(s) -
Berube Lauren Thomas,
Woolf Kathleen,
Gross Rachel,
Messito Mary Jo
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.643.28
Subject(s) - medicine , body mass index , obesity , screen time , healthy eating , demography , pregnancy , analysis of variance , childhood obesity , gerontology , physical activity , physical therapy , overweight , sociology , biology , genetics
Background Sedentary behaviors, including screen time (i.e., time spent using televisions, computers, and smart phones), are associated with unhealthy dietary behaviors and obesity. However, it remains unknown how screen time and dietary habits are related during pregnancy, a critical period known to impact both maternal and child health outcomes. Objective To examine dietary quality and screen time in low‐income Hispanic pregnant women, known to be at high risk of obesity. Methods Cross‐sectional analysis of baseline data from the Starting Early study, a randomized controlled trial beginning in third trimester of pregnancy to prevent childhood obesity. Independent variable: screen time (ST) categorized as low (≤2 hr/d), moderate (>2 to ≤4 hr/d), or high (>4 hr/d). Dependent variable: diet quality assessed using the Block 2005 Bilingual Food Frequency Questionnaire, and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)‐2010. One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post‐hoc analyses were used to determine associations between screen time and HEI‐2010 total score. Results Women (N=482) did not differ in mean body mass index, but women with low and moderate ST were older than those with high ST ( p<0.001 ). The mean HEI‐2010 total score was 72.3 ± 7.9 for low ST, 69.0 ± 9.3 for moderate ST, and 66.2 ± 10.1 for high ST ( p<0.001 ). Low ST had higher mean empty calorie ( p<0.001 ) and vegetable ( p<0.001 ) scores than moderate and high ST. Low and moderate ST had lower mean daily energy intake ( p=0.004 ) and higher mean whole fruit ( p=0.003 ), greens and beans ( p<0.001 ), and dairy ( p=0.002 ) scores than high ST. Conclusion Less screen time was associated with better diet quality and lower intake of empty calories. High screen time was associated with greater energy intake and lower intake of foods recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 . Interventions are needed to reduce screen time and increase intake of nutrient‐dense foods among low‐income Hispanic women during pregnancy. Support or Funding Information Funding Disclosure: USDA Grant # 2011‐68001‐30207