Childhood Obesity - Its Relationship to TV and Computer Use

According to the U.S. News and World Report, a new study cutting kids' TV and computer time by half reduced the amount of food they ate and helped them lose weight. Noting that more than sixteen percent of children ages six to nineteen are overweight, "television viewing is related to consumption of fast food and foods and beverages that are advertised on television," the study authors said in a prepared statement. "Viewing cartoons with embedded food commercials can increase choice of the advertised item in preschoolers and television commercials may prompt eating."

An amazing component of the study is that the physical activity between the children with restricted TV and computer time lost more weight than the other children with no difference between the two groups in terms of physical activity. The full findings are published in the March 2008 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. The American Academy of Pediatrics has more information about childhood obesity.