Indian J.Sci.Res. 8 (1): 001-008, 2014
ISSN: 0976-2876 (Print)
ISSN: 2250-0138(Online)
A SURVEY ON THE TIME SPENT WATCHING TV AND PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES
BY OBESE AND UNDERWEIGHT SEVEN OR EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOYS AND ITS
RELATION WITH SELECTED FACTORS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS AND BODY
COMPOSITION
HOMA HAJISADEGHIa, MOHAMMAD REZA SADEGHIAN SHAHIb1 AND MAHDIYEH
MOLANOURI SHAMSIc
a
Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, Islamic Azad University Taft Branch, Iran
b
Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, Yazd University, Iran
c
Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
ABSTRACT
The extant paper aims at studying the time spent watching TV and playing computer games by obese and underweight
seven or eight-year-old boys and its relation with factors of physical fitness and body composition.To this end, 90 seven or eightyear-old boy students were selected among different primary schools, through random or targeted sampling. For gathering data
about the level of physical activitiesPre-PAQ questionnaire was used; and for evaluating the factors of physical fitness AAHPERD
test was used. Then data was analyzed using SPSS software, the 20th edition. The obtained results revealed that among the factors
of physical fitness solely there is a significant and inverse relation between 45 meter run and the time spent watching TV and
playing computer games. There was no significant relation between body composition and the level of physical fitness with
watching TV and playing computer games.
KEYWORDS: Watching TV, Computer games, Physical activity, Body composition, Factors of physical fitness
Today, obesity has been introduced as an
underlying factor of chronic disease in industrial societies.
Prevalence of obesity in childhood and adolescence has
reached the level of an epidemic and global disease. This
epidemic disease is observed in boys and girls belonging
to all economic-social classes1.
Obesity is an important health problem in
developed and developing countries that has been
increased during the last decades. The abundance of
obesity among kids and its upward trend has turned into a
concern, because obesity in the early years will result into
adult obesity and its complications2.
Today, in industrialized societies, physical
activities of children have been reduced because of motor
vehicles, elevator, TV and etc. Also, because of the
advertisements and the availability of foods with high
calories and low nutritional value, the consumption
pattern of snacks has been changed; and the intake
calories have been increased. These can be considered as
predisposing factors of obesity in children. These changes
can have an impact on reduction of sleep hours of the
children and result into obesity3.
1
Corresponding author
Complications of low weight and obesity
Complications of obesity include high blood
pressure, second type diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary
artery diseases, strokes, joint wear, sleep apnea, cancers,
fatty liver disease, gallbladder disease, depression and
early puberty4.
Also, low weight will have complications
including being short in adulthood, height anomalies,
having broken teeth because of lack of calcium, having a
very feeble body because of lack of activities, hair loss,
and not having a healthy heart because of lack of
activities. In general, low weight delays the natural
growth of the child and make the child prone to different
types of infections through weakening the immune
system. The most important complications of low weight
is malnutrition, failure to mature, suffering from
infections and reduction of abilities that will result into
weakness, inability, mental social economic, cultural
problems and health or educational failures5.
During the last two decades, the patterns of
physical activities of children and teenagers have changed
due to abundance of computer games, spending so much
time watching TV and playing computer games, and
reduction of time deducted to physical activities in
HAJISADEGHI ET AL.: A SURVEY ON THE TIME SPENT WATCHING TV AND PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES BY…
schools and in the society. So, this issue was highly
regarded by the researchers6.
animals done through taking adrenals, obesity was
reduced or eliminated12.
Child obesity threatens the health of the child as
well as his future. Obesity in children will result into adult
obesity, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, strokes, and
different types of cancer. Also, another complication is
the fact that obese people are not accepted in the society.
This complication results into depression, particularly
among girls7.
Body metabolism
Obesity problems in childhood and adolescence
The importance of childhood obesity is not just
early physical and mental complications. Its significance
is also due to increase in adult obesity, death, and its costs
for the society. the fact that nowadays children spend so
much time doing passive activities including watching TV
and playing computer games is of great importance. So, it
is not surprising that some researchers consider the time
spent watching TV as an important factor for prevalence
of obesity8.
Childhood obesity and its complicated
conditions and the possibility of its continuance till
adulthood, is a serious threat for public health in the 21th
century. It is important to regard this fact that reasonable
lifestyles like regular exercise can improve the body
composition and modify the health condition of obese
children and teenagers9.
Obesity factors
World Health Organization (WHO) divided the
major principles influential in human health into two main
factors including genetics and lifestyle. Various studies
revealed that both of these factors directly influence the
prevalence of obesity10.
Since during the last decade particular genetic
changes did not happen, environmental factors caused the
prevalence of obesity. One of the influential factors in
childhood obesity is the obesity of parents. In children
with obese parents the risk of obesity is to 80%. The risk
of obesity in children with thin parents is to 20%11.
Lack of growth hormone is a glandular disease
that results into lack of growth. In drastic cases it may
cause truncal obesity. In these cases, BMI level is normal
and with the treatment of disease it will be eliminated.
Increase in glucocorticoids also results in reduction in
growth and obesity. Enhancement of cortisol in human
beings accompanies obesity. Also, in studies regarding
Indian J.Sci.Res. 8 (1): 001-008, 2014
Human body is always, even while resting or
sleeping, burning calories. Since all the cells, tissues, and
organs of our body need energy consumption in order to
do their natural activities, these calories are used in order
to maintain the internal stability state of the body. For
example, heart needs energy for pumping the blood, the
lungs need it for breathing, and mind cells (even while
sleeping) need it for all their activities13.
Some people have naturally lower metabolism
rate compared to others. These people find it hard to lose
weight and are prone to obesity. In general, cell activities
are faster in children and teenagers. In younger people the
speed of metabolism is higher. Naturally as one gets older
the speed of metabolism is reduced14.
The reasons of low weight
Being obese or underweight are multi-factor
phenomena that are made of interactions of many
complicated factors including genetics, and behavioral
factors. Behavioral factors include physical activities and
diet that are influenced by social, cultural and
environmental contexts. One of the most important
reasons of being underweight is reduction in the intake
energy, so much activity, bad nutritional habits,
gastrointestinal disorders, and chronic diarrhea. These
will result into low weight, being underweight, being
short due to nutritional issues, and different levels of lack
of micronutrients including vitamins and mineral
materials15.
The impact of body fat on physical fitness
Studies on the impact of body composition on
physical fitness revealed that obese people are usually
weak in sport activities. Designing therapeutic sport plans
for obese children is of great importance. Sport helps
growth of bones, increase in the capacity of lungs,
improvement in blood flow, weight control, increase in
the abilities of the muscles, and improvement in the
nervous system of children16.
Studies done about children and teenagers
suffering from mild to average obesity failed to observe
physiologic disorders during exercise. The most amount
of absolute oxygen used by obese children was the same
or even more, compared to non-obese children. This
HAJISADEGHI ET AL.: A SURVEY ON THE TIME SPENT WATCHING TV AND PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES BY…
support this conclusion that “Increase in vo2 max for each
kilogram in the obese participants are because of extra
produced load by the surplus body fat and not due to low
cardiorespiratory performance” 17.
Shahqalyan, Ayin, and Daris (2001) studied
determining BMI and other threatening factors of obesity
in seven or eight-year-old primary school students in
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province. The results
displayed that children with 18/26 BMI are considered
non-obese. Also, the prevalence of obesity at the time of
studies was 9/9%. Factors including obesity in parents or
relatives, consumption of some foods, and the average of
weight at the time of being born (just in girls) had also a
significant relation with childhood obesity. However,
factors including physical activities, social and economic
condition of the family, education of the parents, and
suffering from other disease did not have a significant
relation with childhood obesity18.
Dorosti and Tabatabai (2005) studied the relation
between environmental-behavioral factors and obesity in
primary school students of Ahwaz. The obtained results
revealed that influential factors in obesity of primary
school students in Ahwaz were high weight at the time of
being born, starting complementary food early, spending
a lot of time watching TV and playing computer games,
few sleep hours, and lack of physical activity19.
Boroghani (2010) studied the BMI and physical
activity of eleven or twelve-year-old boy students in
Khoshab city. The obtained results revealed that there is
no significant relation between physical activity and BMI.
However, increase in passive behaviors (watching TV)
has an impact on gaining weight and obesity20.
Robinson (2012) studied decrease in the time
spent watching TV for the sake of avoiding obesity.
Results revealed that compared to the control group, the
experimental group underwent a remarkable decrease in
BMI. Results revealed that students of the experimental
group watched TV remarkably less, and eat less in front
of the TV. Moreover, results displayed that there is a
significant difference between the control and
experimental group regarding eating oily food, having
average to extreme physical activity, physical fitness, and
cardio respiratory performance21, 22, 23.
Jago (2005) studied BMI of children aged three
to six years and concluded that BMI can be predicted
using the time spent watching TV and the physical
Indian J.Sci.Res. 8 (1): 001-008, 2014
activity, and not through studying their nutrition.
Obtained results revealed that in one-year-old children,
there is a significant relation between the physical activity
and the BMI. However, in two-year-old and three-yearold children the relation is significant and inverse. The
inverse relation was strong in three-year-old children
compared to two-year-old ones24.
Salmon (2005) considered the relation between
family environment with the time children spent watching
TV and the low level of physical activity. Results
displayed that the conditions and environment of the
house have great impacts on children’s watching TV
habits. For example, children who have snacks or food in
front of TV experience a good environment while
watching TV. Moreover, if the parents do not follow a
proper TV watching pattern, children will be provided
with a proper environment for excessive TV watching25.
According to the studies done in this regard, the
present paper answers the following question that whether
there is a significant relation between the time obese and
underweight boys spent watching TV and playing
computer games with physical fitness, physical activity,
and body composition. The extant study uses advanced
body composition analyzer so that besides providing more
accuracy in the measurement, it also computes the fat-free
mass and its relation with the time spent watching TV and
playing computer games, physical fitness factor, and body
composition.
RESEARCH METHOD
The extant paper aims at studying the time spent
watching TV and playing computer games by obese and
underweight seven or eight-year-old boys and its relation
with factors of physical fitness and body composition. To
this end, 90 seven or eight-year-old boy students were
selected among different primary schools, through
random or targeted sampling. For gathering data about the
level of physical activities Pre-PAQ questionnaire was
used; and for evaluating the factors of physical fitness
AAHPERD test was used. Then data was analyzed using
SPSS software, the 20th edition. Students were sent to
Islamic Azad University the Taft branch so that their body
composition parameters (BMI and LMB)were evaluated
under identical conditions, using body composition
analyzer. After that, parents received Pre-PAQ physical
activity questionnaire (Genevieve, 2011), in order to
gather data about the physical activities of the children.
HAJISADEGHI ET AL.: A SURVEY ON THE TIME SPENT WATCHING TV AND PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES BY…
When the questionnaires were returned, AAHPERD test
was given in the school.
The present research studies
hypotheses and six secondary hypotheses.
three
main
First hypothesis: There is a significant relation
between watching TV and playing computer games by
obese and underweight seven or eight-year-old boys and
with factors of physical fitness.
Second hypothesis: There is a significant relation
between watching TV and playing computer games by
obese and underweight seven or eight-year-old boys and
the level of physical activities.
Third hypothesis: There is a significant relation
between watching TV and playing computer games by
obese and underweight seven or eight-year-old boys and
the body composition.
DISCUSSION AND RESULTS
Figure 1: Diagram of physical activity frequency
Figure 2: Diagram of status of obesity and impotence
Indian J.Sci.Res. 8 (1): 001-008, 2014
HAJISADEGHI ET AL.: A SURVEY ON THE TIME SPENT WATCHING TV AND PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES BY…
According to the frequency diagram of status of
obesity and impotence, 16 students are underweight, 27
students have appropriate weight, 41 persons are subject
to obesity, and 5 persons are obese.
First hypothesis: There is a significant relation
between watching TV and playing computer games by
obese and underweight primary school boy students with
the physical fitness factors.
Table 1: Coefficient matrix between the time spent watching TV and playing computer games by obese and
underweight primary school boy students with the physical fitness factors
Variable
The time spent watching TV
and playing computer games
The time spent watching
TV and playing computer
games
Jump cuts
Sit-ups
4×9 meter run
45-meter run
540-meter run
Jump
cuts
Sit-ups
4×9 meter
run
45-meter
run
540-meter
run
1
0/602**
0/232*
1
0/209*
1
1
-0/074
0/147
-0/165
-0/223*
-0/092
1
0/594**
-0/128
-0/108
-0/255*
1
-0/011
-0/149
-0/146
According to the above table, there is a weak and
inverse relation between 45-meter run and the time spent
watching TV and playing computer games (correlation
coefficient -0/223). It means increase in the time spent
watching TV and playing computer games results into
decrease in the speed of45-meter run in children.
If the significant correlation coefficients are in
the interval of (0 __±0/3), the relation is weak. If it is in
the interval of (±0/3__±0/6), the relation is moderate. Also,
if it is in the interval of (±0/6__±1), it is a strong relation.
The positive correlation coefficient denotes positive and
direct relation; and negative coefficient reveals negative
and inverse relation between the variables.
Table 2: Regression model summary (prediction of 45-meter run speed through the variable of the time spent
watching TV and playing computer games
Model
1
Multiple correlation
coefficients
0/223
Determination
coefficient
0/050
Balanced determination
coefficient
0/039
Determination
coefficient SD
1/289
The balanced determination coefficient of the
changes and the rest are justified by other variables that
regression model was equal to 0/039. It means the single
are not entered into the model.
variable linear regression justifies 0/04% of the entire
Table 3: Coefficients of regression model
Model factors
Fixed value
Non-standard
Beta (B)
Standard error
6.257
1.262
Standard B
t value
4.956
Sig
0.000
0.035
The time spent watching TV and
playing computer games
-.284
.133
-.223
4.956
Dependent variable: 45-meter run
According to the results of regression model, the
predicted equation for 45-meter run is as follows.
Y = 6/257 - 0/284*X 1
Where Y is the 45-meter run and X
Indian J.Sci.Res. 8 (1): 001-008, 2014
1
is the time
spent watching TV and playing computer games.
According to the table, Sig for the time spent watching
TV and playing computer games equals 0/035. Therefore,
the hypothesis that β1 = 0 is rejected at the 0/05%. The
time spent watching TV and playing computer games in
HAJISADEGHI ET AL.: A SURVEY ON THE TIME SPENT WATCHING TV AND PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES BY…
influential in prediction of 45-meter run speed. Also, the
standard regression coefficient is -0/284 for the variable
of the time spent watching TV and playing computer
games.
Second hypothesis: There is a significant relation
between watching TV and playing computer games by
obese and underweight seven or eight-year-old boys and
the level of physical activities.
Table 4: Correlation matrix between the time spent watching TV and playing computer games by obese and
underweight seven or eight-year-old boy students and the level of physical activity
Variables
The time spent watching TV and
playing computer games
The time spent watching TV and
playing computer games
Physical activity
Physical activity
1
-0/061
According to the table, physical activity does not
have a significant relation with the time spent watching
TV and playing computer games.
1
Third hypothesis: There is a significant relation
between watching TV and playing computer games by
obese and underweight seven or eight-year-old boys and
the body composition.
Table 5: Correlation matrix between the time spent watching TV and playing computer games by obese and
underweight seven or eight-year-old boy students and the level of physical activity
Variables
The time spent watching TV
and playing computer games
BMI
LBM
The time spent watching TV
and playing computer games
BMI
LBM
1
0/534**
1
1
0/030
-0/194
Two-tailed test significant at the level of 0/01**
According to the above table, BMI and LBM do
not have a significant relation with the time spent
watching TV and playing computer games.
Regarding the statistical results, among the
physical fitness factors, just 45-meter run has a significant
and inverse relation with the time spent watching TV and
playing computer games. This result is on one hand in
accordance with and on the other hand in contrary to the
results found by Rahmaninia et al (2010).In that research
there was no significant relation between the factors with
the time spent watching TV and playing computer games.
However, in the present research there was found a
significant relation between one of the factors (45-meter
run) with the time spent watching TV and playing
computer games. The environment and the cultural
environment have impacts on physical fitness. Since the
two researches considered the same variables, their
difference may be due to differences in the cultural
environments26.
The obtained results revealed that there is no
significant relation between physical activity with the
Indian J.Sci.Res. 8 (1): 001-008, 2014
time spent watching TV and playing computer games.
This result was in accordance with the results found by
Dorosti and Tabatabai (2005), Boroghani (2010),
Rahmaninia et al (2010), and Jago (2005). It was in
contrary to the results of Shahqalyan et al. (2001) and
Robinson (2012).
The research results revealed that there is no
significant relation between the time spent watching TV
and playing computer games with body composition
(body mass, fat-free body mass). These results were in
contrary to the results of the research done by Rahmaninia
et al. (2010), Jago (2005) and a part of Yosai et al.
research (2012) about fat-free mass. It is in accordance
with the other part the research done by Yosai et al (2012)
about body mass. Body composition, consisting of body
and oil-free mass, in influenced by the growth
environment, genetic factors, the type of exercises and
activities, and the stages of growth. The reason that the
hypothesis was not confirmed may be that body
composition was influenced by the above-mentioned
factors27.
HAJISADEGHI ET AL.: A SURVEY ON THE TIME SPENT WATCHING TV AND PLAYING COMPUTER GAMES BY…
The obtained results displayed that the time
spent watching TV and playing computer games does not
have a significant relation with physical activity (except
for 45-meter run) and body composition of children. This
may be due to being in the growth age, the type of
inheritance, genetics of the studied sample of children, the
type of nutrition, and the environment in which children
are grown. However, in general, it can be expected that
controlling the time spent doing passive activities
(including watching TV and playing computer games)
and encouraging different physical activities will hinder
occurrence of children obesity.
CONCLUSION
The extant paper aims at studying the time spent
watching TV and playing computer games by obese and
underweight seven or eight-year-old boys and its relation
with factors of physical fitness and body composition. To
this end, 90 seven or eight-year-old boy students were
selected among different primary schools, through
random or targeted sampling. In order to study the body
composition, the level of physical activity, and physical
fitness factors, body composition analyzer, standard PrePAQ questionnaire and AAHPERD test were used
respectively. According to the results, among all the
physical fitness factors, just 45-meter run has a significant
and inverse relation with the time spent watching TV and
playing computer games. BMI does not have a significant
relation with the time spent watching TV and playing
computer games. It can be concluded that the time spent
watching TV and playing computer games does not have
a significant relation with physical activity (except for 45meter run), physical fitness, and body composition of the
children. In general, it can be expected that controlling the
time spent doing passive activities (including watching
TV and playing computer games) and encouraging
different physical activities will hinder occurrence of
children obesity.
SUGGESTION
Researches regarding the awareness of parents in
terms of childhood obesity should be conducted. It seems
that increasing childhood obesity is due to ignorance of
their parents.
The extant paper studied the impact of the time
spent watching TV and playing computer games on
physical fitness, the level of physical activity, and body
composition. We suggest that other researchers focus on
Indian J.Sci.Res. 8 (1): 001-008, 2014
other variables including the central nervous system, the
environmental nervous system, amblyopia, etc.
Since we studied boys aged seven or eight, we
suggest that similar studies be done studying girls.
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