The influence of wanting to look like media figures on adolescent physical activity.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association of adolescents' wanting to look like figures in the media with physical activity levels.


METHODS
Cross-sectional mailed survey of 11,606 boys and girls, between the ages of 9 and 16 years, participating in the Growing Up Today Study in 1997. Participants reported detailed information on physical activities over the previous year, and the degree to which they were trying to look like same-sex images in television, movies, and magazines. We performed linear regression modeling to assess the independent effects of wanting to look like figures in the media on physical activity levels.


RESULTS
Mean total weekly physical activity levels were 12.4 hours in girls and 15.2 hours in boys. 3019 (46%) girls and 1360 (27%) boys reported making at least some effort to look like figures in the media. Adjusted for age, body mass index, sexual maturity rating, and race/ethnicity, total physical activity levels were higher by 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-0.9) and 1.2 (95% CI 0.9-1.6) hours per week in girls and boys, respectively, for every 1 (out of 5) category increase in wanting to look like figures in the media. Adjustment for intrapersonal and social confounders modestly attenuated the associations.


CONCLUSIONS
Wanting to look like figures in the media was associated with higher physical activity levels among older children and adolescents, independent of other personal and social influences. These data suggest that television, movie, and magazine industries should be encouraged to cultivate and reinforce realistic and healthy norms of physical activity and body image.
Taveras
Elsie M
EM
Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. elsie.tavares@tch.harvard.edu
Rifas-Shiman
Sheryl L
SL
Field
Alison E
AE
Frazier
A Lindsay
AL
Colditz
Graham A
GA
Gillman
Matthew W
MW
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities / Q000523:psychology; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D012737:Sex Factors; D040241:Social Marketing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology