Correlates of sedentary behavior in 7 to 9-year-old French children are dependent on maternal weight status

Objective: Sedentary behavior accounts for overweight and obesity, independently of physical activity. Correlates of sedentary behavior have not been extensively reported in the literature. Our objective was to determine factors associated with such behavior in 7 to 9-year-old French children in 2007, and to assess interactions between the identified correlates. Design: A nationally representative sample of 2525 children participated in the study. Television viewing, video/computer duration and characteristics of the children and their parents were assessed using a questionnaire completed by the parents. Correlates of television viewing (<2 h per day versus 2 h per day) as a proxy for sedentary behavior were estimated using multivariate logistic regression. Results: On an average, children spent more than 2 h per day in front of a screen (television: 1 h 32 min (s.e.m.: +/-0 h 02 min); video/computer: 0 h 40 min (+/-0 h 02 min)). Television viewing duration was associated with sociodemographic (child's age, weight status, socio-economic characteristics of the family) and behavioral factors (physical and lifestyle activities). In children of non-overweight mothers, risk of spending 2 h per day in front of a television was significantly higher in those over 9 (versus 7 years: odds ratio (OR): 2.07; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.04-4.11), living in an educational priority zone (OR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.08-2.44), who were not members of a sports team (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.47-3.41), nor declared active by parents (OR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.13-3.25), and whose parents' education level was lower than high school (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.24-2.72). In contrast, in children of overweight mothers, only the criteria of 4 children in the family (versus 2-3 children: OR: 1.87; 95% CI: 1.05-3.35) and no reported parental occupation (versus manager or white collar: OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.11-0.76) were associated with watching television2 h per day. Conclusions: Correlates of sedentary behavior in 7 to 9-year-old children vary according to maternal overweight. Maternal body mass index must therefore be taken into account when developing strategies to prevent a sedentary lifestyle in children.