TELEVISION VIEWING DURING DINNER & ENERGY INTAKE & CHILD HEALTH IN PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

Andrea H. Knowlton1, Susan B. Sisson1, Michael P. Anderson2, Karina R. Lora1, Allen W. Knehans1; 1Dept. of Nutritional Sciences, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK; 2Dept. of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK Food consumption patterns among U.S. children (2-18 years) primarily consist of energy-dense/nutrient poor foods, as evidence by an increased overall daily consumption of 109 kilocalories (kcals), from 1989 to 2008. Television viewing (TVV) as a chosen sedentary behavior influences dietary intake among young children in that it lessens or delays satiety, exposes unhealthy food advertisement, and alters meal time habituation and food choices.PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to determine the association between eating dinner while TVV, energy intake and child health in preschool age children. METHODS: This cross sectional study included preschool-aged children (3-5 years) voluntarily recruited from 15 child care centers across the state of Oklahoma. Food consumption and frequency of eating dinner while TVV were reported by the child’s caregiver via telephone by trained interviewers. A three Dinner Dietary Recall (3DDR) was used to obtain the child’s 3 previous dinners. 3DDR data was analyzed to calculate calories consumed which were averaged across the 3 days. Frequency of eating dinner while TVV was assessed by the following question: “How often does eat dinner in front of the TV each week (wk)?” and responses were categorized as Never (0 days/wk), Sometimes (1-3 days/wk), and Often (≥ 4 days/wk). Height and weight were measured in centimeters and kilograms, respectively. Body Mass Index percentile (BMI%ile) was calculated based on age and sex. Mean ± SD and frequency were calculated. RESULTS: Seventy-two children (57% girls; 3.7 ± 0.70 yrs; 47% white; 26% overweight or obese; 63 ± 29th%ile) had an averaged energy intake across the three dinners of 435 ± 140 kcals. Frequency of eating dinner while TVV was 52% never, 34% sometimes, and 14% often. CONCLUSION: Results from this study describe the frequency of eating dinner while TVV, energy intake and BMI%ile of preschoolers in Oklahoma. Previous literature does not focus on frequency of TVV during dinner in preschool age children, rather on dietary intake in general. Disparities in previous literature indicate a need for further investigation on the associations between on frequency of TVV during dinner, energy intake and child health among preschool age children