Is knowledge of screen time guidelines associated with stages of behavior change for television viewing among adolescents?

It is unknown whether knowledge of guidelines for television (TV) viewing translate into behavior change for TV time among adolescents. The purpose of the present study is to verify whether knowledge of TV recommendations (spending <2 hr/day watching TV) is associated with the stages of behavior change related to TV viewing among adolescents. Schoolchildren (11-16 years) from six schools were recruited. Their knowledge of TV guidelines (correct [<2 hr/day], overestimated [<1 hr/day or never watch TV], underestimated [<3hr/day or watch TV whenever they wanted], and do not know [response option]) and stages of behavior change related to TV (precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance) were assessed by a questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression was used to test the association between knowledge and stages of behavior change. A total of 792 adolescents (53% girls) participated, of whom 45% were in the precontemplation stage, while 35% underestimated and 18% did not know the TV guidelines. Those who overestimated the guidelines had higher odds of being in the maintenance stage than did those who knew the recommendations correctly (odds ratio [OR] 2.06), while those who underestimated the guidelines had lower odds of being in the maintenance (OR 0.22) and any other stage compared to those who were aware of the recommendations (the precontemplation stage was the reference). Underestimating the guidelines was associated with being in the precontemplation stage, while overestimating them was associated with the maintenance stage. Interventions should test whether increasing knowledge can help shifting those in the precontemplation and contemplation toward action and maintenance.

Association between Lifestyle Behaviors and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Sample of Brazilian Adolescents.

This study aimed to analyze the association between lifestyle behaviors and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among Brazilian adolescents. We evaluated 739 adolescents (51.0% girls; mean age, 16.4 ± 1.0 years) from the mesoregion Grande Florianópolis, Brazil. Participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire and sex, age, mother's education, health-related quality of life, physical activity, screen time indicators, sleep duration, diet, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and drug experimentation were retrieved. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Kidscreen-10 instrument. Measures of body mass and height were taken by trained researchers. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used. Self-reported health-related quality of life was higher in males (ß = 3.68, 95%CI: 2.75; 4.61) compared to females, and no association was observed for age and mother's education level. Practicing sports (ß = 1.19, 95%CI: 0.29; 2.08) was associated with better HRQoL, while processed food score (ß = -0.45, 95%CI: -0.78; -0.13), working using screen devices for more than 4 h/day (ß = -2.38, 95%CI: -4.52; -0.25), having experimented illicit drugs (ß = -2.05, 95%CI: -3.20; -0.90), and sleeping less than 8 h/night (ß = -1.35, 95%CI: -2.27; -0.43) were unfavorably associated with HRQoL. Non-sport physical activities, unprocessed food, studying, watching videos, playing videogames, using social media, alcohol drinking, and smoking were not associated with health-related quality of life. These findings suggest that promoting sports and adequate sleep, and preventing excessive workloads and the use of drugs among adolescents may be effective strategies to improve HRQoL.

The Accuracy of Anthropometric Equations to Assess Body Fat in Adults with Down Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to verify the accuracy of anthropometric equations to estimate the body density (BD) of adults with Down syndrome (DS), and propose new regression equations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one males (30.5 ± 9.4 years) and 17 females (27.3 ± 7.7 years) with DS participated in this study. The reference method for BD was air displacement plethysmography (ADP). Also, the BD was estimated by anthropometric equations. The body fat percentage (BF %) was estimated by the Siri equation. RESULTS: For females, the Durnin and Womersley equation showed no difference from the ADP, but a trend of underestimation was observed. For males, all equations were significantly different for the BF % from ADP. The equations developed in this study showed a high correlation and acceptable agreement with BF % from ADP in both genders. CONCLUSION: All equations are not valid for DS adults. The new equations developed here were accurate in estimating the BF %.