20.23: TV and Hypertension
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Learning Objectives
- TV viewing time and adverse health
Research conducted by
Perrie E. Pardee, Gregory J. Norman, Robert H. Lustig, Daniel Preud’homme, and Jeffrey B. Schwimmer
Case study prepared by
Robert F. Houser and Andrew Kennedy
Overview
A strong, evidence-based association exists between TV viewing time and the risk of being obese in children and adolescents. Little or no research, however, has explored adverse health outcomes associated with TV viewing among obese children. This study aimed at identifying whether or not time spent watching TV is associated with hypertension (high blood pressure) in obese children.
Obese children aged \(4\) to \(17\) years were recruited and evaluated at three pediatric centers. Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to the \(95^{th}\) percentile for the child’s age and gender.
Questions to Answer
Is TV watching associated with hypertension in obese children?
Design Issues
The study involved a cross-sectional design, which prevented the determination of possible causality among the associations found. There could be unmeasured factors that play a role in the association between TV viewing and hypertension.
Descriptions of Variables
| Variable | Description |
| Hy pertension | Defined as a systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for the child’s age, gender, and height |
| Age | A child’s age in years |
| BMI | A child's body mass index, calculated as: (weight in kilograms) / (height in meters) 2 |
| Hours of TV/day | An estimate of a child’s average daily time spent watching TV in hours |
Links
Pardee et al. article
Luma et al. article
References
- Pardee, P. E., Norman, G. J., Lustig, R. H., Preud’homme, D., Schwimmer, J. B. (2007). Television viewing and hypertension in obese children. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 33, 439-443.
- Luma, G. B., Spiotta, R. T. (2006). Hypertension in children and adolescents. American Family Physician, 73, 1558-1568.