Media Use and Metabolic Syndrome and its Components in Europeans Children and Adolescents: Results from the I.Family Study

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between media use and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components:waist circumference, blood pressure, dyslipidemia and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)in children and adolescents and whether there is an interrelation between sedentary behaviour (SB), moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and media use.Methods: 7263 children (2-16 years old) from 8 European countries of the I.Family study were included in the cross-sectional analysis. Self-reportedmedia use (hours/day) included TV, computer, game console and internet use. Children were categorized as having MetS and high level of its components when the latter exceeded the 90thpercentile, based on reference curves. Using logistic regression models we examined the association between media use and MetS,adjusting for various covariates, including dietary behaviours and puberty status.In a subsample including accelerometer data (3640 children), SB, MVPA and media use were considered to check for interrelation in the association with MetS and its components.Based on WHO guidelineswe examined whether meetingscreentime recommendations(≤1h/day for children 2-5 years and ≤2h/day for children ≥5 years old) was associated with MetS.Results: Children used media for 2.3 hours/day on average (SD=1.4). Only 49% of children met the guidelines for media use. There was a significant association of media use with high waist circumference (OR=1.16, 95%CI=1.09-1.23), dyslipidaemia (OR=1.06, 95%CI=1.008-1.13) and MetS (OR=1.22, 95%CI=1.07-1.40). The association remained after examining for interrelation between SB, MVPA and media use. Positive association was seen between media use and blood pressure (1.05, 95%CI=0.93-1.19) and HOMA-IR (OR=1.14, 95%CI=0.95-1.37). Children who met the media use guidelines, had lower odds for any of the metabolic outcomes, but significant only for having high Children and families (SIG)
Page 207of 947waist circumference (0.75, 95%CI=0.67-0.84) and dyslipidaemia (OR=0.86, 95%=0.77-0.96), independently of covariates.Conclusions: Media use was associated with metabolic syndrome, waist circumference and dyslipidaemia. Our novel approach suggests that this association is independent of dietary habits and physical activity patterns. However, meeting the media use guidelines seemed to have a protective role on the risk for MetS and its components. Longitudinal associations between media use and MetS will be investigated