Increased television viewing time can increase the risk of obesity among kids. Several studies have found a strong relationship between television viewing time and obesity among kids. With the increase in number of kids’ channels and programs, kids are more interested in watching television than doing any other activity.
According to Journal of American Medical Association, kids who watch television for 4 hours or more have greater amount of body fat than kids who don’t. Also, kids who watch television for longer hours are more likely to be obese as adults.
How much television time is appropriate?
According to American Academy of Pediatrics, kids should not watch more than 2 hours of television per day. Parents should monitor the programs their kids watch and limit the viewing time to 1 or 2 hours per day.
How can Television make your kids obese?
The following are the ways in which television can make your kids obese:
- Television can replace the time spent in active play: An average American kid watches 3 hours of television daily. This leaves little or no time for active play outdoors. Lack of physical activity is the primary factor for obesity among children
- Watching television slows the metabolism: Watching television slows the metabolism, which would mean your kids would burn very few calories during their television viewing.
- Junk food is more convenient to eat while watching television: Kids find it comfortable to snack on high-calorie foods while watching television. This can lead to obesity
- Television Advertisements promote unhealthy food: Television ads entice kids with foods which are high in fat, sugar and calories. Advertisers spend lot of money to promote such products. The more number of ads your kids see, more is the likelihood that they will like and eat such foods
Parents can take steps to limit the amount of television time to prevent obesity. Removing the television from your kids’ room can be beneficial. Also, make sure your kids get at least 1 hour of active play daily.
Television may not be directly causing obesity, but it surely plays an important role in promoting obesity among children. Hence, limit your kids’ television time to make sure they are healthy and fit.
How Much is Bad Parenting Responsible for Childhood Obesity ?
Parents are unable to spend some quality time with their kids. The kids end up being lonely at home. In an age when parental support is very much required, these children crave for love, affection and guidance. The erratic work schedule of the corporate sector is very much responsible for this state. Children make bad choices in choosing food when they are hungry. To get rid of loneliness they spend a lot of time before the television and chat with friends on Internet. Such sedentary life style and eating of low nutritional value food cause Obesity at a very early age.
It is high time that parents realize that their negligence is bringing peril to their child’s well being. It is stressful for the parents and the child too to lead a unhealthy life for long. The complications associated with Obesity grow with time. So is the medical expenditure of the family every month.
