Media use and sedentary behavior in adolescents: What do we know, what has been done, and where do we go?

Adolescent media use, commonly characterized as television and screen time, has steadily increased over recent decades, begging the question whether there has been a concomitant increase in overall sedentary behavior. In an effort to integrate research findings, this article comprehensively summarizes the literature and describes what is known regarding the prevalence of media use, associations with obesogenic behaviors, factors contributing to media use, and evidence-based interventions. A better understanding and conceptualization of media use allow for the identification of directions for future research and can guide improved strategies for physician intervention.