Eating breakfast and snacks while television viewing are associated with some cardio metabolic risk factors among Iranian children.

AIM: We aimed to investigate the association of eating meals while television viewing (TVV) and screen-based behaviors with cardio metabolic risk factors (CRFs) among school-aged children in Shiraz.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done on 409 primary school children (217 boys), aged 6-9 years. Physical activity, time spent on screen-based behaviors and frequency of eating meals while TVV were measured using a questionnaire. Anthropometric indices, fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood lipids, blood pressure (BP), dietary intakes and physical activity were assessed. Association of eating while TVV with CRFs were assessed using linear regression, adjusted for potential confounders. All statistical analysis were conducted using the Stata 13 software.

RESULTS: Fully adjusted model showed that TVV time had significant positive association with waist circumferences (WC), and BP (p <0.05). Also, we found an inverse relationship between using Computer and Video games with TG level (β=-0.3; CI: -0.64, -0.09). Children who ate two or more breakfast meal while TVV had higher WC (β=2.02; CI: 0.51, 3.53) and FBS (β=3.58; CI: 0.39, 6.78) compared to who never ate breakfast while TVV. After adjustment for Screen time and BMI, eating snacks while TVV was positively associated with FBS and systolic BP. However, Eating dinner and lunch while TVV were not significantly associated with any of CRFs after adjustment for confounders.

CONCLUSIONS: We found that both eating breakfast and snacks while TVV were associated with WC, FBS and BP in children. Also, excessive TVV was associated with WC and BP.