title: Internet addiction, sleep and health-related life quality among obese individuals: a comparison study of the growing problems in adolescent health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The rapid rise in the global prevalence of obesity suggests that environmental factors may be responsible. The increased use of technology is associated with increased rates of obesity due to declines in physical activity and significant sedentary life style. Internet addiction is also a growing health issue associated with diminished physical activity and poor sleep quality as well as various health problems. The purpose of this study was to determine associations between Internet addiction and adolescent obesity-related problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, 71 adolescents with obesity were recruited from the outpatient clinic at Tepecik Teaching Hospital and Katip Celebi University Hospital, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology in Izmir, Turkey. The control group consisted of 64 non-obese adolescents that were matched with patients in the study group by age and gender. All subjects completed socio-demographic forms, an Internet addiction scale, the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents with obesity were significantly more likely to have Internet addiction (p = 0.002), lower quality of life (p < 0.001), and higher daytime sleepiness (p = 0.008). Moreover, binary regression analysis showed that Internet addiction and less physical activity were associated with increased odds of obesity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated a significant association between Internet addiction and obesity. Health practitioners should take possible Internet addiction, online activities, and physical activities into consideration in follow-up of obese adolescents. In addition to pharmacologic therapies and dietary interventions, providing behavioral therapy targeting healthy Internet use may be promising to reduce the effects of obesity in adolescence.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent Medicine, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. kayieliacik@gmail.com.|Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Yenisehir, Turkey. kayieliacik@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kayi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Eliacik
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bolat
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Izmir Katip Celebi University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cemil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koçyiğit
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Izmir Tepecik Training and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanik
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent Medicine, MPH, University of Michigan, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Selkie
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Izmir Katip Celebi University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Izmir Katip Celebi University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gonul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Izmir Katip Celebi University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nihal Olgac
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Dundar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, Izmir Katip Celebi University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bumin Nuri
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Dundar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067697:Adolescent Health; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Health-related quality of life; Obesity; Physical activity; Sleepiness