Television viewing and pedometer-determined physical activity among multiethnic residents of low-income housing.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the association between television viewing and pedometer-determined physical activity among predominantly racial/ethnic minority residents of low-income housing in metropolitan Boston in 2005.


METHODS
We used mixed models to analyze the association between reported hours of television viewing and pedometer-determined steps per day among 486 adults. We also examined whether television viewing was associated with the achievement of 10000 steps per day.


RESULTS
There was a mean 3.6 hours of average daily television watching. In multivariable analyses, each hour of television viewing on an average day was associated with 144 (95% confidence interval [CI]= -276, -12) fewer steps per day and a decreased likelihood of accumulating 10,000 steps per day (odds ratio [OR]=0.84; 95% CI=0.71, 0.99). Weekday and weekend television viewing were each also associated with fewer steps per day.


CONCLUSIONS
Average daily television viewing was associated with reductions in total pedometer-determined physical activity levels (approximately 520 steps per day) in this lower-income sample. As part of a comprehensive physical activity promotion plan, recommendations to reduce television viewing should be made.
Bennett
Gary G
GG
Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass, USA. gary_bennett@dfci.harvard.edu
Wolin
Kathleen Y
KY
Viswanath
K
K
Askew
Sandy
S
Puleo
Elaine
E
Emmons
Karen M
KM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011203:Poverty; D013690:Television; D014505:Urban Population; D016138:Walking