Research article summary (published 30 Jul 2009):

Associations between sedentary behavior and blood pressure in young children.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of sedentary behavior on blood pressure (BP) in young children using different indicators of sedentariness. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: A rural Midwestern US community. PARTICIPANTS: Children aged 3 to 8 years (N = 111). Intervention Adiposity was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Objective measurements of sedentary activity were obtained from the accelerometers that participants wore continuously for 7 days. Measurements of television (TV) viewing, computer, and screen time (TV + computer) were obtained via parent report. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Systolic and diastolic BP. RESULTS: The sample spent a mean of 5 hours per day in sedentary activities, of which 1.5 hours were screen time. Accelerometer-determined sedentary activity was not significantly related to systolic BP or diastolic BP after controlling for age, sex, height, and percentage of body fat. However, TV viewing and screen time, but not computer use, were positively associated with both systolic BP and diastolic BP after adjusting for potential confounders. Participants in the lowest tertile of TV and screen time had significantly lower levels of systolic and diastolic BP than participants in the upper tertile. CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary behaviors, particularly TV viewing and screen time, were associated with BP in children, independent of body composition. Other factors that occur during excessive screen time (eg, food consumption) should also be considered in the context of sedentary behavior and BP development in children.

Author information

Author/s: Martinez-Gomez, David (D); Tucker, Jared (J); Heelan, Kate A (KA); Welk, Gregory J (GJ); Eisenmann, Joey C (JC);

Affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA. jce(-atsign-)msu.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine (Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Aug; vol 163 (issue 8) : pp 724-30

Dates: Created 2009/08/04; Completed 2009/09/15;

PMID: 19652104, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/15/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Absorptiometry, Photon Adiposity Analysis of Variance Anthropometry Blood Pressure - physiology Body Composition Child Child, Preschool Computers Cross-Sectional Studies

Cross-Sectional Studies Female Health Behavior Humans Leisure Activities Life Style Linear Models Male Rural Population Television

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