Sedentary patterns and media availability in European adolescents: The HELENA study

Objective To describe sedentary behaviours in adolescents and to examine the influence of media availability on TV viewing. Method: The study assessed 3278 adolescents (1537 males and 1741 females, 12.5-17.5 years) involved in the HELENA study (2007). Adolescents reported hours of TV viewing, computer games, console, internet for study and non-study reasons, and study, as well as availability of TVs, computers and consoles. Results: Time spent in sedentary behaviour was higher during weekend (all p<0.001). Males spent more hours on TV viewing (for >= 15 years at weekends), playing computer games and console games while adolescents exceeded the scree time guidelines (>2 h/day) based solely on TV viewing, whereas around 60% exceeded it at weekends. Having a TV or a console in the bedroom was associated with higher TV viewing (OR = 2.55; 95% CI 2.23-3,18; OR = 1.92; 95% CI 1.61-2.28, respectively) whereas the presence of computer reduced it (OR = 0.57; 95% CI 0.48-0.68). Conclusion. Adolescents living in Europe are not meeting medica recommendations, especially during weekend. The absence of a TV in the adolscents’ bedroom might reduce TV viewing. Further studies are needed to confirm or contrast our findings. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.