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Physical activity and TV viewing as related to obesity,
fat distribution and eating behavior
Increasing physical activity and decreasing sedentary behavior are targets for
obesity prevention. At the Obesity & Nutrition dept. of the Hygeia Hospital in Athens,
Greece, physical activity and TV viewing was studied in relation to body composition
parameters and eating behavior in obese patients. In all, 235 obese, 63 men and 172 women were studied. Anthropometrical data, body composition, basal metabolic rate (indirect calorimetry), TV viewing, snacking in front of the TV, physical activity and dietary intake have been evaluated.
TV time was positively correlated with weight, body mass index, waist, waist to hip ratio and snacking in front of TV (women only). 23.0% of the population viewed TV more than 21 hrs/week and those people were heavier, had greater waist circumference, more total and abdominal fat, ate more snacks and had less |
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physical activity (women only). Overall, 65.1 % ate snacks in front of the TV.
Of these patients, 40% ate unhealthy snacks. Those who ate snacks were younger, but not different in body composition from patients who did not eat snacks. In total, 54.9% of the population had no physical activity - only 18.3% had more than 3hrs/week physical activity, which was negatively correlated with weight, age, body mass index, waist and waist to hip ratio (men only). Patients with physical activity of less than 3hrs/week had greater body mass index, waist, more abdominal fat, lower metabolic rate and ate more snacks in front of the TV (men only).
In conclusion, physical activity, sedentary and eating behaviors are likely to have independent roles in the development of obesity, and should be considered separately in men and women.
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