Behavioral interventions and the role of television in the growing epidemic of adolescent obesity--data from the 2001 Youth Risk Behavioral Survey.
OBJECTIVE
To test television exposure's contribution to overweight (BMI > 95th percentile /age) status in 11.3% of 2001 YRBS respondents, when controlling for moderate/vigorous activity, and eating habits.


METHODS
Controlling for age, ethnicity, smoking, moderate/vigorous activity, and diet habits, gender-specific SUDAAN models estimate likelihood (O.R.) for overweight in teens watching 2+ hours of TV/day.


RESULTS
TV exposure independently increases odds of overweight by 50% for both genders (boys: OR 1.5 [1.2-1.8]; girls: OR 1.6 [1.2-2.0]), when other covariates are controlled. Low vigorous activity rate (1.39 [1.1-1.86]) and smoking independently promote obesity in girls, while boys with fewer fruit/vegetable servings are less likely to be overweight (.76 [.60-.96]).


CONCLUSIONS
Current school-based interventions promote environmental and curricular changes for healthier diets and increased activity rates. TV exposure, however, is rarely targeted as a separate risk factor, and requires attention at the individual, family, and community levels.
Fleming-Moran
M
M
Dept. of Applied Health Science, HPER 116, Indiana University, Bloomington IN 47405, USA. mfmoran@indiana.edu
Thiagarajah
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D040361:Healthy People Programs; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014675:Vegetables