Associations between food and beverage consumption and different types of sedentary behaviours in European preschoolers: the ToyBox-study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between food and beverage consumption and time spent in different sedentary behaviours such as watching TV and DVDs, playing computer/video games and quiet play/activities in preschoolers.


METHODS
A sample of 6431 (51.8 % males) European preschoolers aged 3.5-5.5 years from six survey centres was included in the data analyses. Data on dietary habits and sedentary behaviours [watching TV, playing computer and quiet play (both during weekdays and weekend days)] were collected via standardized proxy-administered questionnaires. One-way analysis of covariance and general linear model (adjusted for sex, maternal education, body mass index and centre) were conducted.


RESULTS
The results of the generalized linear model showed that the more strong associations in both males and females who were watching TV for > 1 h/day during weekdays were positively associated with increased consumption of fizzy drinks (β = 0.136 for males and β = 0.156 for females), fresh and packed juices (β = 0.069, β = 0.089), sweetened milk (β = 0.119, β = 0.078), cakes and biscuits (β = 0.116, β = 0.145), chocolate (β = 0.052, β = 0.090), sugar-based desserts and pastries (β = 0.234, β = 0.250), salty snacks (β = 0.067, β = 0.056), meat/poultry/processed meat (β = 0.067, β = 0.090) and potatoes (β = 0.071, β = 0.067), and negative associations were observed for the consumption of fruits (β = -0.057, β = -0.099), vegetables (β = -0.056, β = -0.082) and fish (β = -0.013, β = -0.013). During weekend days, results were comparable.


CONCLUSIONS
In European preschoolers, sedentary behaviours were associated with consumption of energy-dense foods and fizzy drinks. The present findings will contribute to improve the strategies to prevent overweight, obesity and nutrition-related chronic diseases from early childhood.
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Saragossa, Spain. marymiguelberges@hotmail.es.|GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, School of Health Sciences (EUCS), University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo miral s/n, 50009, Saragossa, Spain. marymiguelberges@hotmail.es.
María L
ML
Miguel-Berges
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Saragossa, Spain.|GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, School of Health Sciences (EUCS), University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo miral s/n, 50009, Saragossa, Spain.
Alba M
AM
Santaliestra-Pasias
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Saragossa, Spain.|GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, School of Health Sciences (EUCS), University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo miral s/n, 50009, Saragossa, Spain.
Theodora
T
Mouratidou
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Odysseas
O
Androutsos
Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Watersportlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Marieke
M
de Craemer
Department of Public Health, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
An-Sofie
AS
Pinket
Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, Munich, Germany.
Julia
J
Birnbaum
Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, University of Munich Medical Centre, Munich, Germany.
Berthold
B
Koletzko
Medical University Varna, 55 Marin Drinov Str., 9002, Varna, Bulgaria.
Violeta
V
Iotova
Medical University Varna, 55 Marin Drinov Str., 9002, Varna, Bulgaria.
Natalia
N
Usheva
The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
Zbigniew
Z
Kulaga
The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
Magdalena
M
Gozdz
Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Health Science and Education, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Yannis
Y
Manios
GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, University of Zaragoza, C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009, Saragossa, Spain.|School of Health Science (EUCS), University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo Miral s/n, 50009, Saragossa, Spain.|GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group, School of Health Sciences (EUCS), University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo miral s/n, 50009, Saragossa, Spain.
Luis A
LA
Moreno
D001628:Beverages; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004032:Diet; D005060:Europe; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D062410:Snacks; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television; D018910:Video Games; D044465:White People
Food intake; Screen time; Sedentary behaviour