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Correlates of sedentary behavior in 7 to 9-year-old French children are dependent on maternal weight status

International Journal of Obesity volume 35, pages 907–915 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

Objective:

Sedentary behavior accounts for overweight and obesity, independently of physical activity. Correlates of sedentary behavior have not been extensively reported in the literature. Our objective was to determine factors associated with such behavior in 7 to 9-year-old French children in 2007, and to assess interactions between the identified correlates.

Design:

A nationally representative sample of 2525 children participated in the study. Television viewing, video/computer duration and characteristics of the children and their parents were assessed using a questionnaire completed by the parents. Correlates of television viewing (<2 h per day versus ⩾2 h per day) as a proxy for sedentary behavior were estimated using multivariate logistic regression.

Results:

On an average, children spent more than 2 h per day in front of a screen (television: 1 h 32 min (s.e.m.: ±0 h 02 min); video/computer: 0 h 40 min (±0 h 02 min)). Television viewing duration was associated with sociodemographic (child's age, weight status, socio-economic characteristics of the family) and behavioral factors (physical and lifestyle activities). In children of non-overweight mothers, risk of spending ⩾2 h per day in front of a television was significantly higher in those over 9 (versus 7 years: odds ratio (OR): 2.07; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.04–4.11), living in an educational priority zone (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.08–2.44), who were not members of a sports team (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.47–3.41), nor declared active by parents (OR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.13–3.25), and whose parents' education level was lower than high school (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.24–2.72). In contrast, in children of overweight mothers, only the criteria of ⩾4 children in the family (versus 2–3 children: OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.05–3.35) and no reported parental occupation (versus manager or white collar: OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.11–0.76) were associated with watching television⩾2 h per day.

Conclusions:

Correlates of sedentary behavior in 7 to 9-year-old children vary according to maternal overweight. Maternal body mass index must therefore be taken into account when developing strategies to prevent a sedentary lifestyle in children.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the physicians and nurses from the French education system, who recorded measurements, and Ms N Neulat, Dr JM Urcun and Ms C Kerneur from the French Ministry of Education, who helped in the organization of the study. We thank the parents and children who participated in the study.

Author Contributions

K Castetbon, MF Rolland-Cachera and S Hercberg designed the study. S Péneau and B Salanave were in charge of data collection. B Salanave and K Castetbon analyzed data. S Péneau drafted the manuscript. K Castetbon, MF Rolland-Cachera, S Hercberg and B Salanave critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors have read and approved the final version. B Salanave and K Castetbon had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of data analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. INSERM U557; INRA U1125; CNAM; Université Paris13, Centre de Recherche en Nutrition Humaine d'Ile-de-France; Unité de Recherche en Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle (UREN),

    S Péneau, M-F Rolland-Cachera & S Hercberg

  2. INRA U1125, Bobigny, France

    S Péneau, M-F Rolland-Cachera & S Hercberg

  3. Institut de Veille Sanitaire—Université Paris13; Unité de Surveillance et d'Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle (USEN),

    B Salanave, M-F Rolland-Cachera, S Hercberg & K Castetbon

  4. Unité de Surveillance et d'Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle (USEN), Bobigny, France

    B Salanave, M-F Rolland-Cachera, S Hercberg & K Castetbon

  5. Département de Santé Publique, Hôpital Avicenne, Bobigny, France

    S Hercberg

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  1. S Péneau
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Correspondence to S Péneau.

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Péneau, S., Salanave, B., Rolland-Cachera, MF. et al. Correlates of sedentary behavior in 7 to 9-year-old French children are dependent on maternal weight status. Int J Obes 35, 907–915 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2011.104

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