title: Screen-Based Behaviors of Children and Cardiovascular Risk Factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the amount of time spent in screen-based behaviors (SBBs; television viewing, computer use, and playing electronic games) is independently associated with individual and clustered cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among elementary school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline data were used from 264 children (age 7-10 years) participating in the Transform-Us! cluster-randomized controlled trial. Time (h/d) spent in SBBs was obtained using a parent proxy-report questionnaire. Anthropometrics, blood pressure (BP), and lipids were measured using standard techniques. A clustered CVD risk score was calculated as the average of the standardized values of the subcomponents (waist circumference [WC], systolic BP, diastolic BP, and lipids).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After adjusting for sex, parent education, physical activity (accelerometry), diet, and WC (when adiposity was not the outcome), television viewing time was positively associated with body mass index z-score (P = .002), WC (P = .02), and systolic BP (P = .05). Electronic games was positively associated with low density lipoprotein levels (P = .05), and total screen-time was positively associated with body mass index (P = .02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differential associations were observed between types of SBBs and CVD risk factors, indicating that not all SBBs are adversely associated with obesity and CVD risk. There is a need to differentiate between types of SBBs when evaluating the CVD risk associated with screen behaviors in children.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial: ISRCTN83725066; Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12609000715279.
authors.affiliation: Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Robin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.affiliation: Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Nicola D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Ridgers
authors.affiliation: Center for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: jo.salmon@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmon
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television; D018910:Video Games