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By Lucy Williams, Ivanhoe Health Correspondent
Orlando, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Kids who sit in front of the tube longer are more likely to consume sugary drinks and extra calories. These habits could lead to obesity.
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Researchers at Harvard Medical School surveyed mothers of 1,203 children enrolled in a childhood nutrition study in Massachusetts. Watching television was associated with increased consumption of junk food and decreased consumption of healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables. Researchers found, for every hour increase in TV viewing each day, 3-year-old children consumed more sweetened beverages and roughly 46 more calories each day.
Although 46 calories may not sound like much, it can add up over time, particularly for a 3-year-old. Previous studies have attributed weight gain in American children in recent years to the addition of just 150 calories per day, said Matthew Gillman, M.D., senior author and associate professor of ambulatory care and prevention at Harvard Medical School.
Children who watched more television were also less likely to eat healthy foods like fruits and vegetables.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours per day for children ages 2 and older. In this study, the average amount of time children watched television was 1.7 hours each day.
Researchers said children can get a lot of physical activity even if they watch a lot of television, but they warn watching television seems to affect energy consumption. Researchers are unclear as to whether children snack more when watching television or if advertisements encourage children to eat more food, specifically unhealthy snack foods and fast food.
The American Heart Association recommends the following measures to boost physical activity in adolescents and minimize time in front of the television:
- Limit television watching to one to two hours per day
- Do not keep a television in your child's bedroom
- Encourage 60 minutes of play or physical activity each day
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, which offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, click on: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.
SOURCE: Lucy Williams at the 47th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 28-Mar. 3, 2007
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