Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Victoria, 3125, Australia.
Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2011 Mar 30;8:23. doi: 10.1186/1479-5868-8-23.
Television viewing has been associated with poor eating behaviours in adolescents. Changing unhealthy eating behaviours is most likely to be achieved by identifying and targeting factors shown to mediate the association between these behaviours. However, little is known about the mediators of the associations between television viewing and eating behaviours. The aim of this study was to examine mediators of the longitudinal associations between television viewing (TV) and eating behaviours among Australian adolescents.
Eating behaviours were assessed using a web-based survey completed by a community-based sample of 1729 adolescents from years 7 and 9 of secondary schools in Victoria, Australia, at baseline (2004-2005) and two years later. TV viewing and the potential mediators (snacking while watching TV and perceived value of TV viewing) were assessed via the web-based survey at baseline.
Adolescents who watched more than two hours of TV/day had higher intakes of energy-dense snacks and beverages, and lower intakes of fruit two years later. Furthermore, the associations between TV viewing and consumption of energy-dense snacks, energy-dense drinks and fruit were mediated by snacking while watching TV. Perceived value of TV viewing mediated the association between TV viewing and consumption of energy-dense snacks, beverages and fruit.
Snacking while watching TV and perceived value of TV viewing mediated the longitudinal association between TV viewing and eating behaviours among adolescents. The efficacy of methods to reduce TV viewing, change snacking habits while watching TV, and address the values that adolescents place on TV viewing should be examined in an effort to promote healthy eating among adolescents.
看电视与青少年不良的饮食习惯有关。要改变不健康的饮食习惯，最有可能的方法是识别和针对那些被证明可以调节这些行为之间关联的因素。然而，人们对电视观看和饮食习惯之间关联的中介因素知之甚少。本研究的目的是检验澳大利亚青少年中电视观看与饮食习惯之间纵向关联的中介因素。
通过网络调查评估了饮食行为，该调查由澳大利亚维多利亚州中学 7 年级和 9 年级的社区样本中的 1729 名青少年在基线（2004-2005 年）和两年后完成。通过网络调查在基线时评估了电视观看和潜在的中介因素（边看电视边吃零食和对电视观看的感知价值）。
每天观看超过两小时电视的青少年，两年后能量密集型零食和饮料的摄入量较高，水果的摄入量较低。此外，看电视与食用能量密集型零食、能量密集型饮料和水果之间的关联是由边看电视边吃零食来调节的。对电视观看的感知价值调节了看电视与食用能量密集型零食、饮料和水果之间的关联。
边看电视边吃零食和对电视观看的感知价值调节了青少年中看电视与饮食习惯之间的纵向关联。应研究减少看电视、改变边看电视边吃零食的习惯以及解决青少年对电视观看的重视的方法的效果，以促进青少年的健康饮食。
