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Television viewing and food habits in toddlers and preschoolers in Greece: the GENESIS study

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Abstract

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the association between television (TV) viewing time and dietary habits of preschoolers. A representative sample of 2,374 Greek children aged 1–5 years was examined (GENESIS study). The majority of participants (74.0%) spent less than 2 h/day watching TV. Children spending ≥2 h/day watching TV seem to have higher energy intake compared to children watching TV less than 2 h/day, even after adjustment for potential confounders (p < 0.001). Furthermore, it was detected that the former were more likely to consume more than 5, 2, and 1.5 exchanges of fat, meat, and other carbohydrates per day, respectively, compared to the latter. In conclusion, the current findings indicate that prolonged TV viewing time may be associated with increased consumption of high-fat and high-sugar foods resulting in increased daily energy intake. Therefore, interventions aiming to modify children’s TV viewing behaviour might need to be implemented.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would further like to thank Evdokia Oikonomou, Vivian Detopoulou, Anastasia Anastasiadou, Christine Kortsalioudaki, Margarita Bartsota, Thodoris Liarigkovinos, Elina Dimitropoulou, Nikoleta Vidra, Theodoros Athanasoulis, Pari Christofidou, Lilia Charila, Sofia Tzitzirika, and Christos Vassilopoulos for their contributions to the completion of this study.

Conflict of interest

The GENESIS study was supported with a research grant from Friesland Foods Hellas. YM works as a part-time scientific consultant for Friesland Foods Hellas. None of the other authors had any personal or financial conflict of interest. The study sponsor had no interference in the study design data collection or writing of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, 70, El. Venizelou Ave, 17671, Kallithea, Athens, Greece

    Yannis Manios, Katerina Kondaki, Georgia Kourlaba, Evangelia Grammatikaki, Manolis Birbilis & Elina Ioannou

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  1. Yannis Manios
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  2. Katerina Kondaki
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  3. Georgia Kourlaba
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Correspondence to Yannis Manios.

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Manios, Y., Kondaki, K., Kourlaba, G. et al. Television viewing and food habits in toddlers and preschoolers in Greece: the GENESIS study. Eur J Pediatr 168, 801–808 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-008-0838-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-008-0838-3

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