Food consumption and screen-based sedentary behaviors in European adolescents: the HELENA study

To examine the association between time spent on different sedentary behaviors and consumption of certain food and beverage groups in a sample of European adolescents.

Data from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross-sectional Study.

Eight survey centers (Athens, Dortmund, Ghent, Lille, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna, and Zaragoza).

A total of 2202 participants (45.5% boys) aged 12½ to 17½ years.

Information on sedentary behaviors (weekdays and weekends) collected via a standardized self-reported questionnaire, including watching television, playing computer and video games, using the Internet for studying or recreation, and studying. Food and beverage consumption data of selected groups were obtained using 2 nonconsecutive 24-hour recalls.

Boys reporting more than 4 h/d of watching television, playing computer games, and using the Internet for recreation were more likely to consume sweetened beverages (weekends) (odds ratio [OR], 1.83 [95% CI, 1.21-2.75]; 1.99 [1.31-3.01]; and 1.73 [1.03-2.91], respectively), and less likely to consume fruit (weekdays) (0.39 [0.21-0.72], 0.37 [0.18-0.77], and 0.39 [0.19-0.78], respectively) than those who spent less than 2 h/d. Girls spending more time per day watching television and playing computer or video games (weekdays) and playing computer games or surfing the Internet for recreation (weekends) were more likely to drink sweetened beverages (OR, 1.89 [95% CI, 1.21-2.94]; 1.57 [1.00-2.46]; 2.14 [1.16-3.97]; and 2.30 [1.24-4.28], respectively) and less likely to consume fruit (weekdays) (0.43 [0.23-0.80], 0.40 [0.19-0.83], 0.37 [0.14-0.94], and 0.42 [0.20-0.85], respectively) than those who spent less than 2 h/d.

Increased television viewing and computer and Internet use during adolescence is associated with higher odds of consumption of sweetened beverages and lower odds of fruit consumption.