A new study found that children who watch TV for at least an hour a day are more likely to be overweight or obese than those who spend less time in front of the screen.
Researchers at the American Academy of Pediatrics looked at the data of more than 11,000 kindergarten children between 2011 and 2012 who participated in the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey, a series of studies examining child development, school readiness and early school experiences.
The parents of the participants provided data about their child's performance in school, the number of TV hours per day and the number of hours of computer use. They also recorded the child's weight and height.
The findings showed that kindergarteners watched TV for an average of 3.3 hours per day. Those who spend at least an hour per day have a 60 percent likelihood of becoming overweight and 73 percent chance of being obese compared to those who watch TV for less than 60 minutes per day. The results did not change even after considering other factors such as family income, race, ethnicity and computer use.
"Given overwhelming evidence connecting the amount of time TV viewing and unhealthy weight, pediatricians and parents should attempt to restrict childhood TV viewing," Mark D. DeBoer, study author and associate professor of pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Virginia, said in a press release.
The researchers recommended that parents limit their kids' TV time to less than an hour per day to lower the risk of childhood obesity. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of obese children has more than doubled in the past 30 years.
Childhood obesity affects the health and well-being of the children by increasing their risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, sleep apnea, psychological problems and low self-esteem.
The study was presented on April 26 at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in San Diego.
