Associations between Television Viewing and Dietary Intakes, Behaviors and Attitudes among Junior High School Students

Abstract

　Recently, junior high school students in Japan spend long time for watching television. Previous research shows negative influences of such long hours of television viewing on their eating habits. This study examined associations between television viewing (TV) and dietary intakes, behaviors and attitudes among junior high school students. As part of a study titled “Sakado Shokuiku Study”, 667 eighth-grade students from all 8 junior high schools in Sakado-city completed a survey in their classroom between October and November in 2009. A total of 627 valid responses were collected (valid respondent rate 94.3％). Dietary intake over the previous 1-month period was assessed with a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire for adolescents (BDHQ15y). Another self-administered questionnaire assessed health, knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and lifestyle. Using daily mean hours for TV, participants were divided into three groups: “＜2 hours”; “ ≥ 2 hours, ＜4 hours”; and “ ≥ 4 hours”. Relationships between TV and food-group intakes, nutrient intakes, dietary behaviors, and dietary attitudes, were statistically tested. All analyses were conducted separately by gender. Mean TV hours were 2.8±1.6 hours/day among boys and 3.2±1.6 hours/day among girls. Students who watch television ≥ 4hours/day reported significantly lower intakes of beans (boys only, p＜0.05), vegetables (boys p＜0.05, girls p＜0.01), and other vegetables (p＜0.05) compared to other two groups. Students who watch television ≥ 4 hours/day also reported significantly lower intakes of certain nutrients, including iron (boys p＜0.05, girls p＜0.01), and fiber (boys p＜0.05, girls p＜0.01). They were significantly more likely to watch television or read books while eating (p＜0.001), and less likely to talk about nutrition and health with family during hours other than mealtime (boys p＜0.01, girls p＜0.001). They also reported significantly lower self-efficacy to eat meals with conscious about nutrition (boys only, p＜0.05) and less concerns about food for better health (boys only, p＜0.05). In conclusion, junior high school students with 4hours or more of daily TV hours reported less healthful food and nutrient intakes, frequent undesirable dietary behaviors, and negative eating attitudes (boys only), compared to students with fewer hours of TV.