The influence of wanting to look like media figures on adolescent physical activity

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Author:

Taveras, Elsie M.; Rifas-Shiman , Sheryl L.; Field, Alison E.; Frazier, Lindsay; Colditz, Graham A.; Gillman, Matthew W.

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Year:

2004

Article Title:

The influence of wanting to look like media figures on adolescent physical activity

Journal:

Journal of Adolescent Health

Volume:

Edition:

Issue:

Pages:

41-50

ISBN/ISSN:

1054-139X

Source of Funding:

Study Design:

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Age Group:

Adolescence (13-17 yrs), Childhood (birth-12 yrs), School Age (6-12 yrs)

URL:

Abstract:

Objective: To examine the association of adolescents' wanting to look like figures in the media with physical activity levels.

Design: Cross-sectional mailed self-administered survey to adolescent and pre-adolescent boys and girls participating I the Growing Up Today Study in 1997. Participants reported on physical activities over the previous year, and the degree to which they tried to look like same-sex images in television, movies, magazines.

Subjects and Setting: 6545 girls and 5607 boys ages 9-16, of original 16,882 children completing Growing Up Today Study. 81% of girls and 72% boys returned questionnaire in 1997. 198 girls, 257 boys excluded due to missing or implausible physical activity hours. 159 girls, 118 boys excluded due to medical conditions. 37 girls, 61 boys excluded due to missing main exposure variables. 215 girls, 51 boys excluded due to reporting binging/purging behavior. Cohort = 93.7% non-Hispanic white.

Interventions: N/A

Outcome Measures: physical activity

Results: Mean total weekly physical activity levels were 12.4 hrs girls, 15.2 hours boys. 3019 (46%) girls and `360 (27%) boys reported making at least some effort to look like same-sex figures in the media. In linear regressional analysis, total physical activity levels were 0.7 (95% CI 0.5-0.9) and 1.2 (95% CI 0.9-1.6) hours/week in girls and boys respectively for every category increase in wanting to look like figures in the media. After adjusting for age, BMI, sexual maturity rating, and race/ethnicity, the association between wanting to look like figures in the media and total physical activity levels was greatest among the oldest girls and boys (p<.05).

Conclusion: Wanting to look like figures in the media was associated with higher physical activity levels among older children and adolescents, independent of other personal and social influences. Television, movie, and magazine industries should be encouraged to cultivate and reinforce realistic and healthy norms of physical activity and body image. � Center on Media and Child Health

Keywords:

Adolescent Attitudes
Adolescent Development
Adolescents
Age Differences
Body Dissatisfaction
Body Image
Child Development
Children
Gender Differences
Imitation
Magazines
Motion Pictures
Parental Influence
Physical Activity
Physical Appearance
Print Media
Public Health
Self Esteem
Self Perception
Social Learning
Social Norms
Television
Weight