Television and Child Obesity, Truth or Fiction?

[David]

TUESDAY, Oct. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Obese kids who develop hypertension may be watching far too much television, a new study suggests.

The finding "illustrates the need for considerable physician and family involvement to decrease TV time among obese children," study author Dr. Jeffrey B. Schwimmer, associate professor of pediatrics at University of California, San Diego, said in a prepared statement.

His team's study included 546 participants, ages 4 to 17, who were evaluated for obesity at clinics in California and Ohio from 2003 to 2005.

Information was collected on the amount of time the children spent watching TV, along with their body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure.

The researchers found that both the severity of obesity and the amount of time spent watching TV each day were significant independent predictors of hypertension.

Children who spent two to four hours a day watching TV were 2.5 times more likely to have hypertension than children who watched two or less hours of TV a day. Children who watched four or more hours of TV a day were 3.3 times more likely to have hypertension than those who watched less than two hours a day.

The findings are published in the December issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

"The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children watch less than two hours of TV per day but reports that only half (51 percent) of pediatricians make this recommendation to patients. TV viewing is an attractive target for intervention, particularly among obese children with hypertension. Several studies have demonstrated that changing TV time alone can lead to weight loss, without any changes in physical activity," said Schwimmer, director of weight and wellness at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego.

However, in a commentary published in the same issue of the journal, Stuart J.H. Biddle, of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences in Loughborough, U.K., noted that studies examining the link between TV viewing/sedentary behaviors and obesity can be difficult to interpret.

[GirlDetermindedtoBeatIT]

I agree with this, I feel TV/video games are a contributing factor to obese people in general. Why go out and be active, have creative hobbies, self develop... etc... when you can entertain the whole family with a remote for just $89.95/month? It's not the TV itself that have caused this problem its the lifestyle that goes with it. Moderation is everything!

[Sydney]

Yes, childhood obesity is a terrible problem - but making laws is NOT the answer. The government intrudes into our lives way too much already and the primary responsibility for a child should always be her/his parents, not the government. These children should be taught wise food choices by mom and dad, and should likewise be encouraged to run around and play after school, rather than slump in front of a TV screen or computer monitor. Does anyone here truly believe that a bunch of legislators in Washington should have governance over your child instead of you? Let's place the responsibility where it truly belongs.

[David]

I agree with you Sydney, but that won't stop the government's overarching and creep into our everyday lives. As to childhood obesity--if you make them, you own them. I view this as the Parents problem and responsibility. This is what I also cannot stand---people who fail to take responsibility for their own actions.

[Susana]

I just found this interesting link:

The Cancer Project will have a National Conference on Childhood Obesity.

It sounds awesome!

[David]

Not to demean the conference, or that people mean well, but have you noticed that all of our nation's problems are now subject to "Town Hall meetings," "Symposiums," or "Conferences?"

I still think that the best solution to overweight and obese children starts with their parents taking more of an active role in being an interested and active participant with respect to their children.

[Susana]

Oh, yes! I totally agree with you! Everything starts at home :)