Television viewing and body fat distribution among Bengali school children of Kolkata, India

Background: Childhood obesity is considered as a major concern since a couple of decades. The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is clear and concerns about the future health impact of childhood obesity are currently well documented. Low level of physical activity, high quantity of fat rich...

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Main Author: Sovanjan Sarkar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitätsverlag Potsdam 2023-03-01
Series:Human Biology and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.human-biology-and-public-health.org/index.php/hbph/article/view/50
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author Sovanjan Sarkar
author_facet Sovanjan Sarkar
author_sort Sovanjan Sarkar
collection DOAJ
description Background: Childhood obesity is considered as a major concern since a couple of decades. The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is clear and concerns about the future health impact of childhood obesity are currently well documented. Low level of physical activity, high quantity of fat rich junk food consumption and prolonged leisure time with television (TV) viewing were reported to be significantly associated with obesity. Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the association of body fat distribution with television watching among school going Bengali children of Kolkata, India. Sample and Methods: 200 girls (aged 10-15 years) from a very heterogeneous background were selected from one state school. Data on socio-demographic aspects, TV viewing, computer use, physical activity and dietary pattern were collected by pretested questionnaire after obtaining prior consent from competent persons. Anthropometric measurements were taken following standard techniques. Results: Most of the participants preferred fat rich junk food and a few practice regular exercises. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) between groups depending on the duration of TV viewing. The adiposity related variables were standardized by standard deviation score before the inferential analyses. Adjusted multiple linear regression showed positive effects of the duration of TV viewing on BMI (R2=0.233) and MUAC (R2=0.277). Conclusion: Irrespective of economic status, prolonged television watching leads to an adverse body fat distribution among teenage girls of Kolkata.
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spelling doaj.art-42c9090e02e34e67ab73d1a9f1ff66552024-04-02T07:02:47ZengUniversitätsverlag PotsdamHuman Biology and Public Health2748-99572023-03-01310.52905/hbph2022.3.50Television viewing and body fat distribution among Bengali school children of Kolkata, IndiaSovanjan Sarkar0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0496-2384Department of Anthropology, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, PIN: 721102, West Bengal, India Background: Childhood obesity is considered as a major concern since a couple of decades. The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity is clear and concerns about the future health impact of childhood obesity are currently well documented. Low level of physical activity, high quantity of fat rich junk food consumption and prolonged leisure time with television (TV) viewing were reported to be significantly associated with obesity. Objective: The present study aims to evaluate the association of body fat distribution with television watching among school going Bengali children of Kolkata, India. Sample and Methods: 200 girls (aged 10-15 years) from a very heterogeneous background were selected from one state school. Data on socio-demographic aspects, TV viewing, computer use, physical activity and dietary pattern were collected by pretested questionnaire after obtaining prior consent from competent persons. Anthropometric measurements were taken following standard techniques. Results: Most of the participants preferred fat rich junk food and a few practice regular exercises. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC) between groups depending on the duration of TV viewing. The adiposity related variables were standardized by standard deviation score before the inferential analyses. Adjusted multiple linear regression showed positive effects of the duration of TV viewing on BMI (R2=0.233) and MUAC (R2=0.277). Conclusion: Irrespective of economic status, prolonged television watching leads to an adverse body fat distribution among teenage girls of Kolkata. https://www.human-biology-and-public-health.org/index.php/hbph/article/view/50BengaliKolkataIndiatelevision viewingphysical activityadiposity
spellingShingle Sovanjan Sarkar
Television viewing and body fat distribution among Bengali school children of Kolkata, India
Human Biology and Public Health
Bengali
Kolkata
India
television viewing
physical activity
adiposity
title Television viewing and body fat distribution among Bengali school children of Kolkata, India
title_full Television viewing and body fat distribution among Bengali school children of Kolkata, India
title_fullStr Television viewing and body fat distribution among Bengali school children of Kolkata, India
title_full_unstemmed Television viewing and body fat distribution among Bengali school children of Kolkata, India
title_short Television viewing and body fat distribution among Bengali school children of Kolkata, India
title_sort television viewing and body fat distribution among bengali school children of kolkata india
topic Bengali
Kolkata
India
television viewing
physical activity
adiposity
url https://www.human-biology-and-public-health.org/index.php/hbph/article/view/50
work_keys_str_mv AT sovanjansarkar televisionviewingandbodyfatdistributionamongbengalischoolchildrenofkolkataindia