The relationship between TV viewing and its impact on children with food groups intake and body mass index (BMI) in children with 2 to 6 years old in Tehran

The formation of food habits begins from early childhoods and is established in adolescence. The mass media especially television is one of the important factors affecting the formation of food habits and child BMI through changing appetite, the desire to consume junk foods and reducing physical activity. Because of childhood obesity had doubled in the past 10 years and to identify factors contributing to obesity and overweight, this study aimed to identify the relationship between the tendency to viewing TV and content of television programs on food groups’ intake and BMI of children. This Descriptive – analytical cross sectional study was conducted on 114 children aged 2 to 6 years old who were enrolled in kindergartens in Tehran. Data on the level of viewing TV was collected with questionnaire. Data about the content of television programs viewed by children was collected with a validated questionnaire. Food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was completed by the researchers through interviews with parents. Height and weight of children were measured by standardized procedures. The Pearson correlation test and ANOVA were used by performing SPSS version 21 to analyze the data. The results showed that more than 60% of children watched TV more than the daily recommendation (2 hours). Cartoons and child’s programs, television advertisements and movies were the most popular programs of TV in children. Boys were more interested in watching TV than girls (3.16±0.77 vs. 2.95±0.71). The results of the analysis showed that BMI significantly increased in children by the increase in their interest in watching TV (p=0.008). There was a positive significant correlation between the time spent on watching television and age (p=0.032), intake of snacks and desserts (p=0.018) and simple sugars (p=0.012). According to the result of this study, the probability of watching TV in preschool children increase as they grow older. Also Increasing tendency to watch TV leads to an increase in BMI and consumption of junk foods.