CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Obesity Prevention and Control: Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Screen Time

CDC

An Evidence-Based Practice

Description

Behavioral interventions to reduce screen time (time spent watching TV, videotapes, or DVDs; playing video or computer games; and surfing the internet) can be single-component or multicomponent and often focus on changing screen time through classes aimed at improving children's or parents' knowledge, attitudes, or skills. These interventions may include:
• Skills building, tips, goal setting, and reinforcement techniques
• Parent or family support through provision of information on environmental strategies to reduce access to television, video games, and computers
• A "TV turnoff challenge" in which participants are encouraged not to watch TV for a specified number of days

The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends behavioral interventions aimed at reducing screen time based on sufficient evidence of effectiveness for reducing measured screen time and improving weight-related outcomes. Screen time was reduced by 36.6 min/day (range: -26.4 min/day to -55.5 min/day) and a modest improvement in weight-related outcomes was observed when compared to controls. Most of the interventions evaluated were directed at children and adolescents.

Results / Accomplishments

Results from the Systematic Reviews:
Seven studies qualified for the review.

• Screen time (hours per day): decrease of 0.61 hrs/day (interquartile interval: -0.44 to -0.925 hrs/day; 4 studies)
• Sedentary behavior and related outcomes: in favor of the intervention (3 studies)
• Weight-related outcomes: modest improvement (5 studies)
• Physical activity: inconsistent and non-significant effects (3 studies)
• Nutrition: findings in favor of the intervention (4 studies)
• Applicable to children ages 3 to 17 (6 of 7 studies)

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
communityguide@cdc.gov
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
http://www.thecommunityguide.org/index.html
http://www.thecommunityguide.org/obesity/behaviora...
Target Audience
Children, Teens

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An Evidence-Based Practice meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes at a minimum: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program implementation steps, and outcomes that have demonstrated program success in achieving the program goal in one or more localities.
  2. The results from an evaluation of the program include quantitative measures showing improvement in the outcome(s) of interest after the implementation of the program (i.e. increase in smoking cessation, not just the delivery of a smoking cessation program). The outcome measure(s) is/are compared at relevant time periods before and after the intervention or program implementation. Alternatively, the evaluation study compares the outcome(s) between an intervention group and an appropriate control group.
  3. The study is of peer-review quality and presents numbers in a scientific manner; measurements of precision and reliability are included (e.g. confidence intervals, standard errors), results from statistical tests show a significant difference or change in the outcome measure(s), and relevant point estimates and p-values are presented. Note: if the results from an evaluation of a program are presented in a scientific manner and the outcome measure is improved compared to the baseline measurement or the control group but the difference is not statistically significant, the practice is classified as effective and not evidence-based.