In the past, we explored some of the key issues surrounding childhood obesity (read more here). One major contributor is inactivity. Kids are spending less time playing and more time glued to screens—and the television is one of the biggest culprits.
TV time doesn’t just affect physical health; it can also have a significant impact on eating behaviors, even in adolescence. A recent study highlights the risks:
Martínez-Gómez D, Veses AM, Gómez-Martínez S, Pérez de Heredia F, Castillo R, Santaliestra-Pasias AM, Calle ME, Garcia-Fuentes M, Veiga OL, Marcos A. Pediatr Int. 2015 Apr 22.
Study Summary:
- Researchers analyzed data from 3,458 Spanish adolescents (ages 13–18.5)
- Adolescents who watched more than one hour of TV per day had a higher risk of eating disorders
- Overweight and obese adolescents were at even greater risk
- The more TV they watched, the higher the risk—regardless of weight status
Conclusion: TV time may be a key factor in preventing both obesity and eating disorders in teenagers.
It’s easy to let kids watch TV while you handle other responsibilities or simply take a break. But as this study suggests, that convenience comes at a cost. It’s not as harmless as it might seem.
Here’s a simple solution:
Tell your children they can watch TV for one hour max. Set a 60-minute timer on the oven, and when it goes off, turn off the TV and take the remote. They might not like it, but if they try to turn it on the old-fashioned way, at least they’ll have to move to do it!
