Video game playing time and cardiometabolic risk in adolescents: The AFINOS study

Background and objective: We aimed to examine the association of video games playing time with cardiometabolic risk biomarkers in adolescents. Subjects and methods: This study comprised 181 adolescents (88 girls), aged 13- to 17 years old. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was measured by accelerometry, and video game playing time in computer and console was self-reported. Waist circumference, systolic blood pressure (BP) and diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and apolipoproteins A-1 and B-100 were measured. Results: Computer games use was not significantly associated with any biomarker (P > 0.1) but the time spent using console games was positively associated with diastolic BP, mean arterial pressure, triglycerides, and a clustered cardiometabolic risk score. These results were independent of age, sex, pubertal stage, MVPA, and WC. Conclusion: These results support some evidence regarding a plausible unfavorable role of playing (console) video games on cardiometabolic health in adolescence. (c) 2012 Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.