Profiles of sedentary behavior in children and adolescents: The US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2006

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of time spent in sedentary behaviors (e. g. , TV/video and computer use) among youth in the US. METHODS: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001-06) provided data to examine sedentary behavior across age groups (2-5, 6-11, and 12-15 years of age), ethnic groups (European EA, African AA, and Mexican American MA), and body mass index (BMI) categories (normal weight, overweight, obese). RESULTS: The sample included 8 707 (50. 7% boys) children aged 2 to 15 years. Seventy percent of the sample was normal weight, 18. 1% was overweight, and 11. 5% was obese. The total proportion of young people engaged in TV/video viewing, computer use, and total screen time > or = 2 hours daily was 33. 0%, 6. 7%, and 47. 3%, respectively. More boys (49. 4%) than girls (45. 0%) ; older (12-15 years: 56. 0%) versus younger children (2-5 years: 35. 3% and 6-11 years: 49. 1%) ; AA (66. 1%) versus EA (42. 5%) and MA (46. 1%) ; obese (58. 5%) versus overweight (50. 8%) versus normal weight (44. 6%) ; and low and middle income (45 K: 42. 6%) children spent > or = 2 hours daily in screen time. CONCLUSION: Nearly half (47%) of US children exceed > or = 2 hours/day of time in sedentary behavior. Further, it appears there are gender, age, ethnic, BMI-defined weight status, and income differences in exceeding > or = 2 hours/day in sedentary behavior. These results will be useful in planning targeted interventions at those populations with a higher prevalence of sedentary behavior.