Electronic game use is associated with

childhood obesity
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

A new study adds to the evidence that sedentary behaviors are linked to childhood obesity
and sheds light on the world-wide dimension of the problem. In a study published in the June
issue of the journal Obesity Research, researchers from The Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia and the University Hospital Zurich present a strong association between playing
electronic video games and childhood obesity in school-aged Swiss children. The researchers
also found that obesity was associated with television watching, paternal smoking and
mother's working outside the home.

"The goal of this study was to identify environmental and behavioral factors, in particular
type and duration of sedentary activities, associated with obesity in children living in
Switzerland," said Nicolas Stettler, M.D., M.S.C.E., a pediatric nutrition specialist at The
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and primary investigator of this study. "To our knowledge
this study provides the strongest evidence for an independent association between time spent
playing electronic games and childhood obesity. Our findings suggest that the use of
electronic games should be limited to prevent childhood obesity."

The research team measured 872 children in first, second, and third grades enrolled in 10
schools in northeastern Switzerland. A physician and medical assistant administered
questionnaires to the children. Questions assessed age, sex, nationality, number of siblings,
smoking status of parents, television programs regularly watched, amount of time playing
electronic games, breakfast consumption, watching television during meals and snacking
while watching television. Teachers estimated the amount of physical activity. The
researchers defined obesity using both skinfold thickness and body mass index (BMI) to
provide a more direct assessment of overweight and overfat status.

In this study, children of foreign nationality living in Switzerland were about twice as likely
to be obese as Swiss children. Non-Swiss children watched more television and had less
physical activity, suggesting that the disparity in obesity prevalence between Swiss and
foreign children may be partially amenable to culturally sensitive interventions.

Obesity was independently associated with the time spent playing electronic games and the
time spent watching television and was inversely associated with physical activity. The
association of obesity with television use and lack of physical activity confirms results from
other populations and points to potential strategies for obesity prevention.

"Evidence-based prevention of childhood obesity requires the identification of modifiable

risk factors," said Dr. Stettler. "Because obesity is difficult to treat once it has been
established, obesity prevention during childhood is an essential component of the efforts to
combat this global epidemic and further research on obesity prevention is necessary."

###
Dr. Stettler's co-authors were Theo M. Signer, M.D. and Paolo N. Suter, M.D., M.Ph. of the
Medical Policlinic, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland.

Founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital, The Children's Hospital of
Philadelphia is ranked in 2003 as the best pediatric hospital in the nation by U.S.News &
World Report and Child magazines. Through its long-standing commitment to providing
exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals and
pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that
have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the
country, ranking second in National Institutes of Health funding among children's hospitals.
In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the
430-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents from before
birth through age 19. Children's Hospital operates the largest pediatric healthcare system in
the U.S. with more than 40 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

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Media Contact

Joey Marie McCool

McCool@email.chop.edu
267-426-6070

@chop_research

http://www.chop.edu

More on this News Release

Electronic game use is associated with childhood obesity

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Journal
Obesity Research
Funder
National Institutes of Health

Keywords

DIET/BODY WEIGHT
EATING DISORDERS/OBESITY
 EXERCISE
MEDICINE/HEALTH
PEDIATRICS
PUBLIC HEALTH

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