Saturday, October 8, 2011

Does TV viewing lead to obesity?

There may be a connection but more research is needed to understand all of the variables that contribute to a child's health.

The media landscape is riddled with marketing messages than undermine healthy choices. In 2006, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report titled "Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat or Opportunity?" The report was requested by Congress and sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Included in the report is a review of the scientific evidence on the influence of food marketing on diets and diet-related health of children and youth. Although many factors contribute to a child's dietary habits, including genetics and cultural background, the report concluded that current food and beverage marketing practices put children's long-term health at risk. According to the report, "If America's children and youth are to develop eating habits that help them avoid early onset diet-related chronic diseases, they have to reduce their intake of high-calorie, low-nutrient snacks, fast foods, and sweetened drinks, which make up a high proportion of the products marketed to them."

The amount of time a child spends watching TV also impacts obesity rates. According to one study, the likelihood of obesity among low-income multi-ethnic preschoolers (between the ages of 1 and 5) increased for each hour per day of TV or video they viewed. Children who had TV sets in their bedrooms (40% of the sample in this study) watched more TV and were more likely to be obese.

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