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Television in the bedroom and increased body weight: potential explanations for their relationship among E uropean schoolchildren
Author(s) -
Cameron A. J.,
Stralen M. M.,
Brug J.,
Salmon J.,
Bere E.,
ChinAPaw M. J. M.,
De Bourdeaudhuij I.,
Jan N.,
Manios Y.,
Moreno L. A.,
Velde S. J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
pediatric obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.226
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 2047-6310
pISSN - 2047-6302
DOI - 10.1111/j.2047-6310.2012.00094.x
Subject(s) - bedroom , waist , obesity , medicine , consumption (sociology) , screen time , demography , childhood obesity , body mass index , advertising , physical activity , gerontology , physical therapy , overweight , geography , art , archaeology , sociology , business , aesthetics , pathology
SummaryWhat is already known about this subject A television in the bedroom is associated with obesity. Televisions are present in the bedrooms of many children. Little is known about the mechanisms linking bedroom televisions and body weight in children.What this study adds A television in the bedroom was positively associated with television viewing time, soft drink consumption and obesity. The relationship between a bedroom television and body size was partly mediated by television viewing time but not sleep duration, physical activity time or soft drink consumption.Aims A television in the bedroom is associated with measures of adiposity. We aimed to test if this association is mediated by any of (i) time spent watching television, (ii) sleep duration, (iii) physical activity level or (iv) consumption of soft drinks. Method Data were from 7234 boys and girls aged 10–12 years in E uropean countries involved in the E uropea N E nergy balance R esearch to prevent excessive weight G ain among Y outh project ( B elgium, G reece, H ungary, the N etherlands, N orway, S lovenia and S pain). Waist circumference, height and weight were measured. The presence of a bedroom television, television viewing time, sleep duration, physical activity time and soft drink consumption were assessed by standardized questionnaires. Results Almost 40% of schoolchildren had a bedroom television, with the highest percentage among H ungarian children (65%) and lowest for B elgian, S lovenian and S panish children (all ≈28%). A television in the bedroom was positively associated with time spent watching television, soft drink consumption and overweight and obesity (all P < 0.001). The relationship between a television in the bedroom and measures of body size was partly mediated by total television viewing time (proportion mediated for waist circumference 8.9%; for body mass index 8.3%) but not sleep duration, physical activity time or soft drink consumption. Conclusion The strong association between a television in the bedroom and adiposity was at least partially mediated by television viewing time. The large proportion of E uropean schoolchildren with a television in their bedroom is of concern. Parents should be aware of the potential consequences when placing a television in a child's bedroom and children should limit viewing time.