Television-Viewing Characteristics of Adults: Correlations to Eating Practices and Overweight and Health Status

Introduction The purpose of this study was to examine the associations among television viewing, eating practices, and overweight and health status of a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. Methods Data on adults aged 20 years or older from the U.S. Department of Agr...

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Main Author: Shanthy A. Bowman, PhD
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2006-03-01
Series:Preventing Chronic Disease
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/apr/05_0139.htm
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author Shanthy A. Bowman, PhD
author_facet Shanthy A. Bowman, PhD
author_sort Shanthy A. Bowman, PhD
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description Introduction The purpose of this study was to examine the associations among television viewing, eating practices, and overweight and health status of a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. Methods Data on adults aged 20 years or older from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals 1994–1996 were used for the study. Participants’ socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, macronutrient intakes, weight status, prevalence of health conditions, television viewing, and overweight status were analyzed. Survey design effects were used in the analyses. Results More than 2 hours of television viewing per day was associated with a high mean body mass index and overweight or obesity in both men and women. Other characteristics associated with watching more than 2 hours of television per day were being 50 years of age or older, having a high school education or less, living in a household with income below 131% of the federal poverty level, and not being employed. Adults who watched more than 2 hours of television per day had high intakes of energy and macronutrients and were more likely to be overweight. They also obtained more energy from snacks and supper. A higher percentage of adults with health conditions watched more than 2 hours of television per day compared with adults without health conditions. Conclusion Obesity intervention programs, especially those aimed at adults who are retired or not employed, should emphasize reducing time spent viewing television or videos or participating in similar sedentary activities and discourage snacking or eating while watching television.
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spelling doaj.art-4ad8e08fc14f449fb27782f63ddb33d52023-12-02T13:56:24ZengCenters for Disease Control and PreventionPreventing Chronic Disease1545-11512006-03-0132Television-Viewing Characteristics of Adults: Correlations to Eating Practices and Overweight and Health StatusShanthy A. Bowman, PhDIntroduction The purpose of this study was to examine the associations among television viewing, eating practices, and overweight and health status of a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States. Methods Data on adults aged 20 years or older from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals 1994–1996 were used for the study. Participants’ socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, macronutrient intakes, weight status, prevalence of health conditions, television viewing, and overweight status were analyzed. Survey design effects were used in the analyses. Results More than 2 hours of television viewing per day was associated with a high mean body mass index and overweight or obesity in both men and women. Other characteristics associated with watching more than 2 hours of television per day were being 50 years of age or older, having a high school education or less, living in a household with income below 131% of the federal poverty level, and not being employed. Adults who watched more than 2 hours of television per day had high intakes of energy and macronutrients and were more likely to be overweight. They also obtained more energy from snacks and supper. A higher percentage of adults with health conditions watched more than 2 hours of television per day compared with adults without health conditions. Conclusion Obesity intervention programs, especially those aimed at adults who are retired or not employed, should emphasize reducing time spent viewing television or videos or participating in similar sedentary activities and discourage snacking or eating while watching television.http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/apr/05_0139.htmchronic diseasepreventionpublic healthoverweightadultstelevision
spellingShingle Shanthy A. Bowman, PhD
Television-Viewing Characteristics of Adults: Correlations to Eating Practices and Overweight and Health Status
Preventing Chronic Disease
chronic disease
prevention
public health
overweight
adults
television
title Television-Viewing Characteristics of Adults: Correlations to Eating Practices and Overweight and Health Status
title_full Television-Viewing Characteristics of Adults: Correlations to Eating Practices and Overweight and Health Status
title_fullStr Television-Viewing Characteristics of Adults: Correlations to Eating Practices and Overweight and Health Status
title_full_unstemmed Television-Viewing Characteristics of Adults: Correlations to Eating Practices and Overweight and Health Status
title_short Television-Viewing Characteristics of Adults: Correlations to Eating Practices and Overweight and Health Status
title_sort television viewing characteristics of adults correlations to eating practices and overweight and health status
topic chronic disease
prevention
public health
overweight
adults
television
url http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/apr/05_0139.htm
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