Association between watching TV whilst eating and children's consumption of ultraprocessed foods in United Kingdom

© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd This study aimed to assess the association between watching TV whilst eating and consumption of ultraprocessed foods amongst children aged 4–10 years old in the United Kingdom. Cross-sectional data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS 2008–2012) were analysed. Dietary data were derived from 4-day food diaries of 1,277 children, and the dietary contribution of ultraprocessed foods was assessed. Meals were classified based on time of day in which foods were consumed (lunch: 11 pm–3 pm and dinner: 6 pm–9 pm). Crude and adjusted linear regression models were employed to verify the effect of watching TV during meals on dietary contribution of ultraprocessed foods (% of total energy intake). More than 70% of the children watched TV during meals, and 31.4% presented the behaviour on both “lunch and dinner.” Children's mean total energy intake was 1,532.3 kcal/day, of which 65.8% came from ultraprocessed foods. Findings indicated that children who watched TV whilst having both meals (lunch and dinner) consumed on average 85.5 kcal/day and 6.1% more energy from ultraprocessed foods than those who did not. Children who watched TV only during dinner consumed on average 37.1 kcal/day and 3.4% more energy from ultraprocessed foods than those who did not. The behaviour of watching TV whilst eating meals was associated with higher total daily consumption of ultraprocessed foods by children in the United Kingdom. Therefore, interventions designed to promote healthy eating habits should include aspects related to the context of meals.