title: Video game playing is independently associated with blood pressure and lipids in overweight and obese adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between duration and type of screen time (TV, video games, computer time) and blood pressure (BP) and lipids in overweight and obese adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a cross-sectional study of 282 overweight or obese adolescents aged 14-18 years (86 males, 196 females) assessed at baseline prior to beginning a lifestyle intervention study for weight control. Sedentary behaviours, defined as hours per day spent watching TV, playing video games, recreational computer use and total screen time were measured by self-report. We examined the associations between sedentary behaviours and BP and lipids using multiple linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seated video gaming was the only sedentary behaviour associated with elevated BP and lipids before and after adjustment for age, sex, pubertal stage, parental education, body mass index (BMI), caloric intake, percent intake in dietary fat, physical activity (PA) duration, and PA intensity. Specifically, video gaming remained positively associated with systolic BP (adjusted r = 0.13, β = 1.1, p<0.05) and total cholesterol/HDL ratio (adjusted r = 0.12, β = 0.14, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Playing video games was the only form of sedentary behaviour that was independently associated with increased BP and lipids. Our findings provide support for reducing time spent playing seated video games as a possible means to promote health and prevent the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in this high risk group of overweight and obese adolescents. Future research is needed to first replicate these findings and subsequently aim to elucidate the mechanisms linking seated video gaming and elevated BP and lipids in this high risk population.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00195858.
authors: Healthy Active Living and Obesity Research Group, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ggoldfield@cheo.on.ca
authors: Gary S
authors: GS
authors: Goldfield
authors: Glen P
authors: GP
authors: Kenny
authors: Stasia
authors: S
authors: Hadjiyannakis
authors: Penny
authors: P
authors: Phillips
authors: Angela S
authors: AS
authors: Alberga
authors: Travis J
authors: TJ
authors: Saunders
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: Tremblay
authors: Janine
authors: J
authors: Malcolm
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: Prud'homme
authors: Rejeanne
authors: R
authors: Gougeon
authors: Ronald J
authors: RJ
authors: Sigal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018910:Video Games / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids