Author Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Social Pediatrics Unit, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey (Özmert EN, Özdemir R, Pektaş A); Department of Pediatrics, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine Ankara, Turkey (Üçkardeş Y); Department of Social Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Institute of Child Health, Ankara, Turkey (Yurdakök K)

Corresponding Author: Elif N. Özmert, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Social Pediatrics Unit, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, 06100, Sıhhıye, Ankara, Turkey (Email: nozmert@hacettepe.edu.tr)

doi:10.1007/s12519-011-0243-2

Background: Television, computer and other causes of increased inactivity are reported to be among the major causes of obesity. This cross-sectional study was aimed to evaluate the effect of television viewing and other daily activities on body mass index (BMI) z-score of early adolescents.

Methods: A total of 860 students and their parents (581) from different socioeconomic level schools were included. They were instructed to fill in a self-designed questionnaire. Weight and height were measured, and BMI z-scores were calculated.

Results: BMI z-score was higher in boys and in those attending high socioeconomic level schools. Children with a BMI z-score >2SD watched television (2.5±0.9 h/day) longer than those with <-2SD (1.6±0.8 h/day) (P=0.027). The three categories (<-2SD, -2SD–2SD, >2SD) differed significantly according to maternal (P<0.05) and paternal (P<0.005) BMI. Linear logistic regression analysis revealed that socioeconomic level, maternal BMI and paternal BMI are factors affecting BMI z-score significantly.

Conclusion: Genetic and/or family environment which may affect the nutrition and activity of adolescents seems to be the most important factor affecting their BMI z-score.

Key words: activity; body mass index;   television

                    World J Pediatr 2011;7(1):37-40