Media Screen time, Physical Activity and Nutritional Indicators as Risk Factors for Childhood and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity in Aguas Zarcas, Costa Rica.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v6i2.622Keywords:
obesity, risk factors, physical activity, media screen time, children, adolescents.Abstract
Childhood obesity is an increasingly serious issue worldwide. There is substantial research that explores health problems, psychosocial issues and rising medical costs related to obesity, however, limited research has discovered the etiology and specific risk factors associated with the epidemic. This study sought to understand the prevalence and related risk factors of obesity in rural Aguas Zarcas, Costa Rica in Spring 2011. The sample included 1 025 school-aged children ages four to 18. Each child participating in the study completed a survey that addressed hypothesized risk factors (i.e. media screen time and physical activity). I also measured each subject’s height, weight, and abdominal circumference to determine whether significant relationships existed between the proposed risk factors and the overall rate of obesity among school children. Results showed a positive relationship between screen time (time spent in front of a television, computer, or video game) and BMI/abdominal circumference and a negative relationship between physical activity and BMI/abdominal circumference. Time spent watching television on the weekend was positively correlated to BMI (p < 0,001) and physical activity throughout the week and weekend was negatively correlated with both BMI and abdominal circumference (p < 0,0001). Most children involved in the study fell within healthy height and weight classifications, while 12% were considered obese according to the Center for Disease Control’s BMI standards. Obesity rates were especially high among males and females ages ten through 12. This research serves as a foundation for further exploration of obesity risk factors and prevalence, and can be used to inform policy and programming to prevent the impending rise of childhood obesity in Costa Rica.References
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Barnett, T. A., O’Loughlin, J., Sabiston, C. M., Karp, I., Belanger, M., Van Hulst, A., & Lambert, M. (2010). Teens and screens: The influence of screen time and adiposity in adolescents. American Journal of Epidemiology, 172, 255-262.
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Epstein, L., Roemmich, J., Robinson, J., Paluch, R., Winiewicz, D., Fuerch, J., & Robinson, T. (2008). A Randomized Trial of the Effects of Reducing Television Viewing and Computer Use on Body Mass Index in Young Children. Arch Pediatr Adolescent Med. 162, 239-240.
de la Rosa, F., Squizzato, M. A., & Masloski, J. E. (2007). Obesidad: Una epidemia en aumento. Revista de Posgrado de la Via Cátedra de Medicina, 172, 12-15.
Gaya, A. R., Alves, A., Aires, L., Martins, C. L., Ribeiro, J. C., & Mota, J. (2009). Association between time spent in sedentary, moderate to vigorous physical activity, body mass index, cardio respiratory fitness and blood pressure. Annals of Human Biology, 36, 379-387.
Harris, K.C., Kuramoto, L.K., Schulzer, M., & Retallack, J.E. (2009). Effect of school based physical activity interventions on body mass index in children: a meta-analysis. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 180, 719-726.
Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos de Costa Rica (INEC). (2011). Población total proyectada por sexo, según provincia, canton, y distrito. San Jose, Costa Rica. Retrieved from http://www.inec.go.cr
Kourlaba, G., Kondaki, K., Liarigkovinos, T., & Manios, Y. (2009). Factors associated with television viewing time in toddlers and preschoolers in Greece: the GENESIS study. Journal of Public Heath, 31, 222-230.
Lytle, L. A. (2009). Examining the etiology of childhood obesity: The IDEA Study. Am J Community Psychol, 44, 1-19.
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Núñez-Rivas, H. P., Monge-Rojas, R., León, H., & Roseló, M. (2003). Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Costa Rican elementary school children. Rev Panam Salud Public/Pan Am J Public Health, 13, 24-32.
Ogden, C., & Carroll, M. (2010). Prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents: United States, Trends 1963—1965 through 2007-2008. National Center for Health Statistics & Center for Disease Control, United States. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_07_08/obesity_child_07_08.htm
Sokal, R., & Rohlf. F. J. (1981). Biometry: the principles and practice of statistics in biological research. W. H. San Francisco: Freeman and Co.
Tandon, P.S., Zhou, C., Lozano, P., & Christaki, DA. (2011). Preschoolers’ total daily screen time at home and by type of childcare. The Journal of Pediatrics, 158, 297-300.
Wang, F., & Veugelers, P. J. (2008). Self-esteem and cognitive development in the era of the childhood obesity epidemic. Obesity Reviews, 9, 615-623.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2007). WHO Child growth standards: Methods and development. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/childgrowthstandards_technical_report_2/en/.
Baker, J.L., Olsen, L.W., & Sorensen, T. (2007). Childhood body mass index and the risk of coronary heart disease in adulthood. The New England Journal of Medicine, 357, 2329-2337.
Barnett, T. A., O’Loughlin, J., Sabiston, C. M., Karp, I., Belanger, M., Van Hulst, A., & Lambert, M. (2010). Teens and screens: The influence of screen time and adiposity in adolescents. American Journal of Epidemiology, 172, 255-262.
Bell, J., Rogers, V. W., Dietz, W. H., Ogden, C. L., Schuler, C., & Popovic, T. (2011). CDC Grand Groups: Childhood obesity in the United States. Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report, 60, 42-46.
Epstein, L., Roemmich, J., Robinson, J., Paluch, R., Winiewicz, D., Fuerch, J., & Robinson, T. (2008). A Randomized Trial of the Effects of Reducing Television Viewing and Computer Use on Body Mass Index in Young Children. Arch Pediatr Adolescent Med. 162, 239-240.
de la Rosa, F., Squizzato, M. A., & Masloski, J. E. (2007). Obesidad: Una epidemia en aumento. Revista de Posgrado de la Via Cátedra de Medicina, 172, 12-15.
Gaya, A. R., Alves, A., Aires, L., Martins, C. L., Ribeiro, J. C., & Mota, J. (2009). Association between time spent in sedentary, moderate to vigorous physical activity, body mass index, cardio respiratory fitness and blood pressure. Annals of Human Biology, 36, 379-387.
Harris, K.C., Kuramoto, L.K., Schulzer, M., & Retallack, J.E. (2009). Effect of school based physical activity interventions on body mass index in children: a meta-analysis. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 180, 719-726.
Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos de Costa Rica (INEC). (2011). Población total proyectada por sexo, según provincia, canton, y distrito. San Jose, Costa Rica. Retrieved from http://www.inec.go.cr
Kourlaba, G., Kondaki, K., Liarigkovinos, T., & Manios, Y. (2009). Factors associated with television viewing time in toddlers and preschoolers in Greece: the GENESIS study. Journal of Public Heath, 31, 222-230.
Lytle, L. A. (2009). Examining the etiology of childhood obesity: The IDEA Study. Am J Community Psychol, 44, 1-19.
CDC - National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (2010). Obesity: Halting the epidemic by making health easier. Atlanta, Georgia. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/aag/obesity.htm)
Núñez-Rivas, H. P., Monge-Rojas, R., León, H., & Roseló, M. (2003). Prevalence of overweight and obesity among Costa Rican elementary school children. Rev Panam Salud Public/Pan Am J Public Health, 13, 24-32.
Ogden, C., & Carroll, M. (2010). Prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents: United States, Trends 1963—1965 through 2007-2008. National Center for Health Statistics & Center for Disease Control, United States. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_07_08/obesity_child_07_08.htm
Sokal, R., & Rohlf. F. J. (1981). Biometry: the principles and practice of statistics in biological research. W. H. San Francisco: Freeman and Co.
Tandon, P.S., Zhou, C., Lozano, P., & Christaki, DA. (2011). Preschoolers’ total daily screen time at home and by type of childcare. The Journal of Pediatrics, 158, 297-300.
Wang, F., & Veugelers, P. J. (2008). Self-esteem and cognitive development in the era of the childhood obesity epidemic. Obesity Reviews, 9, 615-623.
World Health Organization (WHO). (2007). WHO Child growth standards: Methods and development. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/childgrowthstandards_technical_report_2/en/.
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Published
2014-09-03
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Souza, C. (2014). Media Screen time, Physical Activity and Nutritional Indicators as Risk Factors for Childhood and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity in Aguas Zarcas, Costa Rica. UNED Research Journal, 6(2), 181–186. https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v6i2.622
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