Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012 Dec 8:12:1060.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-1060.

Temporal trends in and relationships between screen time, physical activity, overweight and obesity

Mitch J Duncan  1 , Corneel Vandelanotte, Cristina Caperchione, Christine Hanley, W Kerry Mummery
Affiliations

Temporal trends in and relationships between screen time, physical activity, overweight and obesity

Mitch J Duncan et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: The aims of this study were to examine temporal trends in the prevalence of sufficient moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), high levels of screen time, combined measures of these behaviors and overweight or obesity in Australian adults during the period 2002-2008. Trends over this time period in overweight or obesity within each behavior group (sufficient/insufficient MVPA, high/low screen time and combined behaviors) were also examined.

Methods: Data were collected via annually conducted cross-sectional computer-assisted-telephone-interviews (CATI) of adults (n=7908) living in Central Queensland, Australia (2002-2008). Self-reported MVPA, screen time (TV viewing and computer use), and BMI were used to create dichotomous classifications of physical activity (Sufficient MVPA (S-MVPA), Insufficient Physical Activity (I-MVPA)), screen time (High Screen Time (HST), Low Screen Time (LST)), combined behavior categories (S-MVPA/LST, I-MVPA/LST, S-MVPA/HST, I-MVPA/HST) and BMI (Overweight or Obese, Healthy Weight) respectively.

Results: The prevalence of S-MVPA, HST, and overweight or obesity increased at approximately the same rate over the study period in the overall sample and females (p≤0.05). In the overall sample and in females, the prevalence of overweight and obesity increased over the study period in those individuals classified as I-MVPA/HST (p≤0.05).

Conclusion: Results provide evidence that while the prevalence of S-MVPA appears to be modestly increasing, the proportion of the population engaging in HST and classified as overweight or obese are increasing at approximately the same rate. These observations highlight the need to increase levels of total physical activity (including light intensity physical activity) and decrease sedentary behavior including screen time.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity and combined behaviors during the period 2002–2008.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Bauman AE. Updating the evidence that physical activity is good for health: an epidemiological review 2000–2003. J Sci Med Sport. 2004;7(1 Suppl):6–19. - PubMed
    1. Brown W, Bauman A, Chey T, Trost S, Mummery K. Comparison of surveys used to measure physical activity. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2004;28(2):128–134. - PubMed
    1. Brownson RC, Boehmer TK, Luke DA. Declining rates of physical activity in the United States: what are the contributors? Annu Rev Public Health. 2005;26:421–443. doi: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.26.021304.144437. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Chau J, Smith BJ, Bauman A, Merom D, Eyeson-Annan M, Chey T, Farrell L. Recent trends in physical activity in New South Wales. Is the tide of inactivity turning? Aust N Z J Public Health. 2008;32(1):82–85. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2008.00170.x. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Vandelanotte C, Duncan MJ, Caperchione C, Hanley C, Mummery WK. Physical activity trends in Queensland (2002 to 2008): are women becoming more active than men? Aust N Z J Public Health. 2010;34(3):248–254. doi: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00521.x. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types