Subjects and Methods
In this study, the researcher were collected data from 2 samples. Children from two different samples. Sample 1: Third graders from 12 ethnically diverse elementary schools in Northern California. (N=90) Parents consented for child's participation. Controls (N=27) selected from the same third grade sample. Sample 2: Fifth grade students, mostly Latino, from 8 low-income elementary schools in San Jose, CA. Mothers consented to child's participation. (N=124). Three nonconsecutive 24-h dietary recalls were collected from each child. For each eating episode reported, children were asked whether they had been watching television. Height and weight were measured by using standard methods and were used to calculate BMI.
Results/Findings
The findings of the study revealed that ,On weekdays 17-18% of children's daily energy intake was consumed while watching television. On weekends 26% of daily energy intake occurred during television viewing. Although the fat content of the foods consumed during television viewing did not differ significantly from that of the foods consumed with the television off, less soda, fast food, fruit, and vegetables were consumed with the television on. The amount of food consumed during television viewing was not associated with children’s BMI, but the intake of high-fat foods during weekday television viewing was correlated with a higher BMI in third grade children (p=0.04).
Conclusion
The researcher concluded that children consume a large amount of their daily food intake while watching television and they consume less healthy food when watching television, and the consumption of high-fat foods on weekends may be associated with BMI in younger children. These findings support the speculation that eating while watching television is a potential mechanism linking television viewing to obesity. These results serve to justify future experimental studies to test this hypothesis. Interventions designed to help children change the types of foods consumed during television viewing, reduce food consumption during television viewing, or even reduce television viewing may markedly change children’s dietary intake patterns.