How much TV is too much for young children? TV viewing links to obesity in kindergarteners

Researchers find excessive TV viewing is dangerous to young children.

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report one hour of television viewing is already too much for kindergarteners and children in first-grade. By analyzing data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey and comparing data to kids at the same cohort who watch less than an hour, the researchers discovered children who watch at least 60 minutes of TV per day were more likely to be overweight and obese.

MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - Current recommendations from the AAP state, at most, two hours of TV should be allowed to children and teenagers a day.

"Given overwhelming evidence connecting the amount of time TV viewing and unhealthy weight, pediatricians and parents should attempt to restrict childhood TV viewing," said co-author and University of Virginia pediatrician Dr. Mark DeBoer through an issued statement.

The findings suggest there is a 50 to 60 percent higher risk of becoming overweight if kindergarteners and first-graders spend more than an hour in front of the television. They were also more likely to be obese by 58 to 73 percent.

However, there was no relationship established between being overweight to computer use in the study.

Due to the recent findings, Dr. DeBoer suggests the American Academy of Pediatrics might have to issue another recommendation with lower amount of time for television viewing for the observed cohort. In the research abstract, the authors explain that kindergarteners in the U.S. are spending significant amount of time watching TV per day.

"Those watching at least 1 hour of television daily have a higher odds of overweight/obesity, even after adjustment for potentially important confounders. These data may have implications for appropriate guidelines for the amount of TV viewing allowed for kindergartners. With regard to risk of obesity, limiting TV viewing should remain a major focus for interventions in this age group," they said.

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