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Use of information and communication technology and prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 925–933 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased among children and adolescents, as well as among adults, and television viewing has been suggested as one cause. Playing digital games (video, computer and console games), or using computer may be other sedentary behaviors related to the development of overweight and obesity.

OBJECTIVE:

To study the relationships of times spent on viewing television, playing digital games and using computer to overweight among Finnish adolescents.

DESIGN:

Mailed cross-sectional survey.

SUBJECTS:

Nationally representative samples of 14-, 16-, and 18-y-old (N=6515, response rate 70%) in 2001.

METHODS:

Overweight and obesity were assessed by body mass index (BMI). The respondents reported times spent daily on viewing television, playing digital games (video, computer and console games) and using computer (for e-mail, writing and surfing). Data on timing of biological maturation, intensity of weekly physical activity and family's socio economic status were taken into account in the statistical analyses.

RESULTS:

Increased times spent on viewing television and using computer were associated with increased prevalence of overweight (obesity inclusive) among girls: compared to girls viewing television <1 h daily, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for being overweight was 1.4 when spending 1–3 h, and 2.0 when spending ≥4 h daily on viewing television. In girls using computer ≥1 h daily, the OR for being overweight was 1.5 compared to girls using computer <1 h daily. The results were similar in boys, although not statistically significant. Time spent on playing digital games was not associated with overweight.

CONCLUSION:

Overweight was associated with using information and communication technology (ICT), but only with certain forms of ICT. Increased use of ICT may be one factor explaining the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity at the population level, at least in girls. Playing digital games was not related to overweight, perhaps by virtue of game playing being less sedentary or related to a different lifestyle than viewing television and using computer.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all the participants of the Adolescent Health and Lifestyle Survey. Financial support for the study was obtained from the Health Promotion Research Programme of the Academy of Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Education through the Doctoral Programs in Public Health, The Medical Research Fund of Tampere University Hospital, and the Juho Vainio Foundation, Finland. We express our gratitude to Mr Lasse Pere for data management, and to Mrs Marja Vajaranta for revising the language.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    S Kautiainen, T Lintonen, S M Virtanen & A Rimpelä

  2. The Medical Research Fund of Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

    S Kautiainen & S M Virtanen

  3. Department of Social Policy, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    L Koivusilta

  4. Centre for Advanced Study, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland

    T Lintonen

  5. Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

    S M Virtanen

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  1. S Kautiainen
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Correspondence to S Kautiainen.

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Kautiainen, S., Koivusilta, L., Lintonen, T. et al. Use of information and communication technology and prevalence of overweight and obesity among adolescents. Int J Obes 29, 925–933 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802994

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