TV viewing linked to poor health

The amount of television viewed as a child is directly related to the risk of health problems as an adult, according to new research. Although previous reports have linked childhood television viewing with adverse health, no long-term studies have looked at the effects on adult health.Researchers from the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, studied 1000 subjects who were born in the early 1970s and followed at regular intervals until 26 years of age. Television viewing was assessed with interviews conducted at 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 21 years of age. Excessive television viewing between the ages of 5 and 15 years increased the risk of high cholesterol levels, smoking, poor fitness, and being overweight in adulthood. In contrast, such viewing had no effect on the risk of high blood pressure. On a population level, the researchers estimate that 17 percent of overweight, 15 percent of poor fitness, 15 percent of elevated cholesterol, and 17 percent of current smoking in 26-year-olds could be attributed to watching more than 2 hours per day of television during childhood and adolescence.
The results suggest that excessive television viewing in children is likely to have far-reaching consequences for adult health. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should limit children's viewing to 1 to 2 hours per day. In fact, less than 1 hour a day of TV viewing would be even better. Ultimately, parents must reclaim from television the responsibility for educating and entertaining their young children.

COMMENT