Are screen-based sedentary behaviors longitudinally associated with dietary behaviors and leisure-time physical activity in the transition into adolescence?
BACKGROUND
There is a need for more longitudinal studies investigating the associations between screen-based sedentary behaviors (SB), dietary behaviors and leisure-time physical activity (PA).


METHODS
In the HEIA cohort study, 908 children were followed from age 11 to age 13 (September 2007-May 2009). The children self-reported their intake of fruits, vegetables, soft drinks with sugar and snacks. TV/DVD use, computer/game use and leisure-time PA were also self-reported. Multilevel generalized linear mixed model analysis was used to assess longitudinal associations between the screen-based SB and each of the two other behaviors.


RESULTS
Twenty-month changes in TV/DVD use and computer/game use were positively associated with changes in the consumption of soft drinks with sugar and unhealthy snacks in the same period; and inversely associated with change in vegetable consumption. Change in computer/game use was also inversely related to change in fruit consumption. An inverse but non-substantive association was found between change in TV/DVD use and change in leisure-time PA. Change in computer/game use was not significantly associated with change in leisure-time PA.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in screen-based SB were associated with multiple unfavorable changes in dietary habits, although the associations were weak. These associations need to be further investigated in intervention/experimental studies, to assess whether changing screen-based SB will result in clinically relevant changes in dietary behaviors. However, the findings of this study suggest that screen-based SB and leisure-time PA are largely independent behaviors which should be addressed separately in health promotion activities.
Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. mekdes.gebremariam@medisin.uio.no
Mekdes K
MK
Gebremariam
Ingunn H
IH
Bergh
Lene F
LF
Andersen
Yngvar
Y
Ommundsen
Torunn H
TH
Totland
Mona
M
Bjelland
May
M
Grydeland
Nanna
N
Lien
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D001628:Beverages; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003201:Computers; D004032:Diet; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D057566:Self Report; D062410:Snacks; D013690:Television; D014675:Vegetables
D019422:Dietary Sucrose