Association between excessive TV viewing time and body mass index among brazilian adolescents: Quantile regression analysis of the national student health survey (PeNSE), 2015

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate whe-ther excessive TV viewing time is associated with body mass index (BMI), irrespective of physical activity (PA) and interaction with consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), among Brazilian adolescents. It is a cross-sectional study with data on 13-17-year-old adolescents from the 2015 National Student Health Survey. BMI was the outcome (direct measurement of height and body mass) and exposure was excessive TV viewing time (>2 h/day), daily consumption of UPFs and PA. Quantile regression was used to test associations and interactions. Excessive screen time was associated with higher BMI values (e.g., 25th percentile =0.060 kg/m² versus 95th percentile =0.891 kg/m², p<0.001). After adjusting for PA, the association remained, however, attenuated. The in-clusion of UPFs in the model potentiated the association (e.g., 25th percentile =0.062 kg/m² versus 95th percentile =0.956 kg/m², p<0.001). Excessive screen time was associated with BMI percentiles, irrespective of PA-the absence of PA and the pre-sence of UPF consumption affect the upper BMI percentiles more. Actions to reduce excessive TV viewing time, consumption of UPFs and promo-ting PA are essential to positively impact BMI and its reflexes on the health of Brazilian adolescents.