Body Mass Index and the Literacy on Obesity in Relation to Media Following

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of TV, magazines, radio, and internet following on body mass index (BMI) and obesity-related literacy among adults
In this cross-sectional study, the subjects were recruited from an outpatient center in the city of Sombor, Serbia during Mar-Apr 2013. We collected data by a questionnaire from 657 (397 women; 59%) subjects, aged from 18 to 87 yr (Mean = 45; SD =14). The questionnaire consisted of personal data, body height and weight, frequency of television, radio, magazines and internet following and personal opinion on the impact of smoking, alcohol consumption, stress and physical inactivity on obesity.
Spearman’s rank correlation analysis showed that BMI increased with longer TV viewing with a very weak strength of the correlation (r=0.104; P=0.009) and decreased with more internet following with a weak strength of the correlation (r=-0.200: P Internet is the only media that independently and positively influence weight control and the literacy on obesity among adults.