This study sought to investigate the effects of both baseline TV viewing and 5-year changes in TV viewing time on changes in continuous biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk in Australian adults. The analysis included 3,846 adults (1,703 men and 2,143 women) from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab). Baseline TV viewing time was not associated with subsequent 5-year changes in cardiometabolic risk variables. However, the change in TV viewing time during a 5-year period was positively associated with changes in waist circumference in men and women and, in addition, with the clustered cardiometabolic risk score and diastolic blood pressure in women. These associations were largely independent of several potential confounding factors, including physical activity and diet. These results suggest that an increase in TV viewing time may have adverse cardiometabolic health consequences. They also support recommendations of reducing sedentary behaviours in addition to increasing physical activity in public health guidelines for prevention.
Documentation centre