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Effect of activity and television viewing on BMI z-score in early adolescents in Turkey

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Abstract

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Social Pediatrics Unit, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Elif N. Özmert, Ramazan Özdemir & Ayhan Pektaş

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Başkent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Yasemin Üçkardeş

  3. Department of Social Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Institute of Child Health, Ankara, Turkey

    Kadriye Yurdakök

  4. Department of Pediatrics, Social Pediatrics Unit, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, 06100, Sıhhıye, Ankara, Turkey

    Elif N. Özmert

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  1. Elif N. Özmert
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  2. Ramazan Özdemir
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  3. Ayhan Pektaş
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  4. Yasemin Üçkardeş
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  5. Kadriye Yurdakök
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Correspondence to Elif N. Özmert.

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Özmert, E.N., Özdemir, R., Pektaş, A. et al. Effect of activity and television viewing on BMI z-score in early adolescents in Turkey. World J Pediatr 7, 37–40 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-011-0243-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-011-0243-2

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