Television a Factor in Childhood Obesity

Too much time spend in front of the television or other electronic sources of entertainment may contribute to obesity.

by Dr. Richard Visser

If you're like many people in the U.S., you might plop yourself in front of the television or computer for some relaxation the instant you get a moment's leisure. Not to ruin your quality "down-time," but what do you think your toddler learns from this example?

In 2004, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association reported that the average preschool-aged child (two to five years old) watches 28 hours of television each week. And a 2004 study in Obesity Research showed that children whose primary sources of entertainment are electronic games and television run a significantly higher risk of becoming obese. The U.S. Surgeon General agrees, stating that there is a significant correlation between overweight children and the amount of time spent watching television, surfing the Web, or playing video games.

If a child eats while watching TV, she isn't paying attention to either the food or her stomach, and it can be easy for her to eat until she's beyond her "full" point. The foods most craved as a snack are the same high-fat, high-sugar, low-fiber products that are being marketed to your child every five minutes during kids' programming. A 2006 study by the Harvard School of Public Health reported that for every hour a child spent watching TV, they added 167 calories to their diet per day--primarily from foods frequently advertised on TV.

Furthermore, a study released in September 2006 by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development shows that "children who were overweight at age 2 or later during their preschool years faced a five times higher risk of being overweight at age 12 than youngsters who were not overweight early on." That means it's in your child's best interest to establish healthy exercise habits now.

What can you do? The National Association of Sports and Physical Education (NASPE) states: "Infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers should engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily (and) should not be sedentary for more than 60 minutes at a time (except when sleeping)."

Ways To Keep Your Kids Moving: Limit the time your kids spend in front of the TV. Keep TVs and computers out of bedrooms. Encourage regular television-free days. Turn exercising into fun involving everyone in the family. Walk to the park or playground with your kids walking, biking, or skateboarding alongside you.

At the park, playground, or in your yard, throw a ball or Frisbee around, play tag or kickball, or just run around and be silly. Give everyone in your family a pedometer, and make a game of recording each person's steps at the end of the day or week. Earn awards and incentives at www.presidentschallenge.org. When you can't go outside, video games like Dance Dance Revolution offer quite a workout as the player mimics dance steps shown onscreen (this fall, a TV version will be on CBS during Saturday morning kids' programming).

Remember, involvement in any kind of physical activity combats the vicious cycle of sitting and snacking, which leads to low energy from poor nutrition and lack of exercise, which leads to more sitting and snacking.

Ways to Prevent Unconscious Eating:

Make sure every meal (even a snack) is a focused activity.

No TV or games while eating.

Give your child food only when he is hungry.

Make sure he's not asking for a snack or drink because he's bored or wanting attention.

Again, your kids model your own behavior, so if they see you snacking in front of the TV or computer, they'll want to do it, too. You'll find that if, instead of lounging on the sofa with a big bag of chips, you turn off the TV and sit at the table, you'll eat much less--and you'll be setting a better example for your kids. (Though crunching on carrot sticks would be even better!)

By modeling the eating habits you know are best for your child and adding a frequent dose of active fun, you'll be encouraging your entire family to follow your example. No matter what activity you do, as long as you're moving, it counts as a positive step towards a healthier lifestyle and healthy habits that will support your children for a lifetime.