The relationships between body mass index and television viewing, internet use and cellular phone use: the moderating effects of socio-demographic characteristics and exercise.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to examine the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and television viewing, Internet use and cellular phone use and the moderators for these relationships in adolescents.


METHODS
The relationship between BMI and the time spent on three kinds of sedentary activities and the moderators for these relationships were analyzed among 9,278 Taiwanese adolescents. The different relationships between BMI and various Internet and cellular phone-related activities were analyzed.


RESULTS
High television viewing and high Internet use were associated with increased BMI in adolescents. Exercising had a moderating effect on the relationship between BMI and television viewing. Several Internet and cellular phone-related activities were associated with increased BMI.


CONCLUSIONS
The results support the relationships between adolescent BMI and television viewing and Internet use. The moderating effect of exercise and various Internet and cellular phone-related activities should be considered when developing intervention strategies for overweight adolescents.
Yen
Cheng-Fang
CF
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Hsiao
Ray C
RC
Ko
Chih-Hung
CH
Yen
Ju-Yu
JY
Huang
Chi-Fen
CF
Liu
Shu-Chun
SC
Wang
Shing-Yaw
SY
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D040421:Cell Phone / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*