Boys with TV’s in their bedroom are heavier

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Thursday, October 25, 2007 12:45 pm Email this article
Twelve-year-old boys who had a television in their bedroom were heavier, had larger waists and more body fat than boys who did not according to a study from researchers at the Louis Pasteur University of Strasbourg–Medical Faculty in Strasbourg, France. BMI

Boys BMI with TV vs without: 20.5 vs 19

Boys with a television in their room at a body mass index (BMI) of 20.5 compared to 19.0 for boys without a television in their room, despite the fact that there was not a significant difference between levels of physical activity.

 

Waist

Waist circumference in Boys BMI with TV vs without: 27.9 inches vs 26.5 inches

Waist circumference was also larger in boys with TV’s, 27.9 inches versus 26.5 inches (70.9 cm versus 67.2 cm).

 

Body Fat

Body fat in Boys BMI with TV vs without: 15.9% versus 13.5%

Levels of body fat were also higher in boys with TV’s, 15.9 percent versus 13.5 percent.

All of this remained true after adjusting for socioeconomic status.

 

Girls

None of these relationships were true in girls

They did not find any of these relationships true in girls.

The only difference they found in girls with TV’s in their room was they spent less time reading.

This was also the case with boys.

 

Subjects

Subjects: 379 children 12-years-old

The study analyzed data from 379, 12-year-old French adolescents.

 

Conclusion

Conclusion: As an obesity prevention, keep a TV out of your child’s bedroom

“These results suggest the importance of keeping TV out of an adolescent’s bedroom from an obesity prevention perspective but show gender differences,” the researchers concluded.

 

Previous Studies with Children and TV watching

Children with TV in their bedroom one-third more likely to be overweight

A previous study found that children with TV in their bedroom one-third more likely to be overweight.

Children who watch more than 2 hours of television per day are 32 percent more likely to obese

Another study found that children who watch more than 2 hours of television per day are 32 percent more likely to obese.

Every one hour of TV-watching per day increases a child’s risk of overweight 60 percent

Another study found that every one hour of TV-watching per day increases a child’s risk of overweight 60 percent.

 

Previous Studies Regarding TV watching Among Adults

Obesity rates in the U.S. lowest for those who watch the least television

Another study found that among adults, obesity rates in the U.S. lowest for those who watch the least television.

Obesity rates were 24 percent for those who watched less than 2 hours of TV per day, 31 percent for those who watched 2-4 hours of TV per day, and 41 percent for those who watched 4 hours or more per day.

Obesity rates in the U.S. lowest for those who watch the least television

Another study found that people who watch more than 4 hours of TV per day are twice as likely to be obese.

 

People eat more while watching TV

People eat more while watching TV: Women 16-21% more, Men 50-52% more

Another interesting study found that people eat more when they are distracted by watching television.

Women at 16-21 percent more, while men ate 50-52 percent more.

REFERENCE

Delmas C, Platat C, Schweitzer B, Wagner A, Oujaa M, Simon C. Association between television in bedroom and adiposity throughout adolescence. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007 Oct, 15(10):2495-503.

AUTHOR’S CONTACT INFORMATION

Chantal Simon
EA 1801
Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases and Cancers
Influence of Nutrition and Physical Inactivity
Louis Pasteur University of Strasbourg–Medical Faculty
4 rue Kirschleger
67085 Strasbourg Cedex
France
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Childhood Obesity

• Television Watching