TV-viewing in Australian adults: Sedentary or active?

Oral Presentation A10.5

Authors

  • Janet McKeown Macquarie University
  • Janaki Amin Macquarie University
  • Adrian Bauman University of Sydney
  • Hidde van der Ploeg Amsterdam UMC
  • Patrick Kelly University of Sydney
  • Josephine Chau Macquarie University; University of Sydney

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.422

Keywords:

Sedentary Behaviour, TV-Viewing, Adults

Abstract

Background: It is widely assumed that TV-viewing is sedentary with little consideration of multitasking. Purpose: To examine the correlates of sedentary and active TV-viewing in Australian adults. Methods: We analysed data from the Australian Time Use Survey from 2006. Persons aged ≥15 years old who reported at least one 5-minute episode of TV-viewing while also completing a secondary activity were selected (N=5418). Secondary activities were categorized by intensity: 1-1.5METs were considered sedentary, activities >1.5METs were coded as active. Sample-weighted mixed-effects multi-level logistic regression models were used to obtain adjusted ORs for socio-economic factors associated with sedentary and active TV viewing. Results: Participants reported 28,980 episodes of doing an activity while watching TV, with 154 different activities reported during TV-viewing (12,223 active TV-viewing episodes; 16,757 sedentary TV-viewing episodes). Active TV-viewing was associated with older age (OR=2.94; 95% CI: 2.38-3.65 30-39 year olds compared to 15-19 year olds); number of dependent children in the family (OR=2.17; 95% CI: 1.81-2.60 >=3 children compared to no children); sex (female vs male: OR=1.96; 95% CI: 1.80-2.07); self-rated health (OR=0.70; 95% CI:0.54-0.90 ‘poor’ compared to ‘excellent’); and having someone present in the room (OR=0.74; 95% CI: 0.67-0.81 compared to being alone). Risk of sedentary TV-viewing was higher among males, 15-19 year olds, residents in major cities, being alone in the room, having no dependent children in the family, reporting poorer self-rated health (p<0.001). Conclusions: This study shows that TV-viewing can be sedentary or active, further demonstrating the limitations of TV-viewing as an indicator of sedentary behaviour.

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

McKeown, J., Amin, J., Bauman, A., van der Ploeg, H., Kelly, P., & Chau, J. (2021). TV-viewing in Australian adults: Sedentary or active? Oral Presentation A10.5. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.422

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