To examine the association between mealtime media use and non-HDL-cholesterol as well as other markers of cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in children.

A repeated measures study design was used to examine the association between mealtime media use and CMR outcomes. Multivariable linear regression with generalised estimating equations was used to examine the association between mealtime media use and CMR outcomes. Analyses were stratified a priori by age groups (1–4 and 5–13 years).

The TARGet Kids! Practice-based research network in Toronto, Canada.

2117 children aged 1–13 years were included in the analysis.

After adjusting for covariates, there was no evidence that total mealtime media use was associated with non-HDL-cholesterol in 1–4 year olds (P = 0·10) or 5–13 year olds (P = 0·29). Each additional meal with media per week was associated with decreased HDL-cholesterol in 5–13 year olds (−0·006 mmol/l; 95 % CI −0·009, −0·002; P = 0·003) and log-TAG in 1–4 year olds (β = −0·004; 95 % CI −0·008, −0·00009; P = 0·04). Media use during breakfast was associated with decreased HDL-cholesterol in 5–13 year olds (−0·012 mmol/l; 95 % CI −0·02, −0·004; P = 0·002), while media during lunch was associated with decreased log-TAG (−0·01 mmol/l; 95 % CI −0·03, −0·002; P = 0·03) in children aged 1–4 years. Total mealtime media use was not associated with total cholesterol, glucose or insulin in either age group.

Mealtime media use may be associated with unfavourable lipid profiles through effects on HDL-cholesterol in school-aged children but likely not in pre-schoolers.