TV viewing and obesity among Norwegian children: the importance of parental education. (27th November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kristiansen, Hege; Júlíusson, Pétur B; Eide, Geir E; Roelants, Mathieu; Bjerknes, Robert
• Is Part Of: Acta pædiatrica. Volume 102:Number 2(2013:Feb.)
• Page Start: 199
• Page End: 205
• Publication Date: 2012-11-27
• Subjects: Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pediatrics; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.12066
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0803-5253

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="apa12066-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="apa12066-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To analyse the effect of lifestyle factors on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in 6–15‐year‐old Norwegian children.</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12066-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Questionnaire data on lifestyle factors (sedentary behaviour, activity and eating habits) and prevalence numbers of overweight and obesity based on measured height and weight were analysed using multinomial logistic regression in a sample of 2281 children included in the Bergen Growth Study.</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12066-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>More screen time increased the risk of overweight (odds ratio (OR): 1.25; p = 0.02) and obesity (OR: 1.12; p = 0.02) as did the presence of a TV in the child's bedroom (OR: 1.26 (overweight), OR: 1.81 (obese); p = 0.04). The obese children reported less sugar intake than the not overweight children (OR: 0.58; p = 0.01). Higher parental education was associated with less screen time (p = 0.02), lower frequency of TV in the child's bedroom (p = 0.001), more sports (p = 0.005), as well as eating more fruit and vegetables, less sweets, soft drinks and fast food, and more regular meals (for all, p < 0.03).</p> </sec> <sec id="apa12066-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Indicators of sedentary lifestyle, such as screen time and the presence of a TV in the child's bedroom, were associated with overweight and obesity in Norwegian schoolchildren. Higher parental education was generally associated with less obesogenic lifestyle.</p> </sec> </abstract>