Screen time and physical activity during adolescence: longitudinal effects on obesity in young adulthood

doi:10.1186/1479-5868-4-26

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Volume 4

Viewing options:

Abstract
Full text
PDF (341KB)

Associated material:

Related literature:

Articles citing this article
on BioMed Central
on Google Scholar
on ISI Web of Science
on PubMed Central
Other articles by authors
on Google Scholar

Boone JE
Gordon-Larsen P
Adair LS
Popkin BM

on PubMed

Boone JE
Gordon-Larsen P
Adair LS
Popkin BM
Related articles/pages
on Google

on Google Scholar

on PubMed

Tools:

Post to:

Research

Screen time and physical activity during adolescence: longitudinal effects on obesity in young adulthood

Janne E Boone¹^,2 , Penny Gordon-Larsen¹^,2 , Linda S Adair¹^,2 and Barry M Popkin¹^,2

¹Department of Nutrition, Schools of Public Health and Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

²Carolina Population Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

author email corresponding author email

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2007, 4:26doi:10.1186/1479-5868-4-26


Published:	8 June 2007

Abstract

Background

The joint impact of sedentary behavior and physical activity on obesity has not been assessed in a large cohort followed from adolescence to adulthood.

Methods

Nationally representative longitudinal data from Waves II (1995; mean age: 15.9) and III (2001; mean age: 21.4) of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 9,155) were collected. Sex-stratified multivariate logistic regression analysis assessed the odds of obesity associated with Wave II MVPA and screen time, controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and change in MVPA and screen time from Wave II to III. Obesity was defined using body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) International Obesity Task Force cut-points at Wave II and adult cut-points at Wave III (BMI ≥ 30).

Results

In males, adjusted odds of prevalent obesity was strongly predicted by MVPA bouts [OR (95% CI): OR_{6 vs. 1 MVPA bouts}= 0.50 (0.40, 0.62); OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs screen time}= 0.83 (0.69, 1.00)]. In females, greater MVPA bouts and lower screen time correlated with lower prevalent obesity [OR (95% CI): OR_{6 vs. 1 MVPA bouts}= 0.67 (0.49, 0.91); OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs screen time}= 0.67 (0.53, 0.85)]. Longitudinally, adolescent screen time hours had a stronger influence on incident obesity in females [OR (95% CI): OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs}= 0.58 (0.43, 0.80)] than males [OR (95% CI): OR_{4 vs. 40 hrs}= 0.78 (0.61, 0.99)]. Longitudinal activity patterns were not predictive of incident obesity.

Conclusion

Reducing screen time during adolescence and into adulthood may be a promising strategy for reducing obesity incidence, especially in females.