Most parents think that too much television isn’t good for their children, and now there’s research to prove it.
In a study sponsored by Stanford University, scientists found a direct correlation between TV time and obesity. “This study proves that what everyone thinks about television is true,” says Paul Jenkins, MS, PT, physical therapist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “The more time kids spent parked in front of the television, the higher their body mass index.” And the findings don’t stop there. In addition to extra weight, couch potatoes had greater amounts of body fat.
So what can you do to protect your kids from childhood obesity? Turn off the tube -- and the computer and video games.
“Parents should evaluate the amount of time their children spend watching television and playing with computers and video games,” says Jenkins. “Chances are, there’s room to reduce.”
The key to setting limits is to slowly reduce TV time. “By placing limits on TV time, children are encouraged to get moving and make better selections about how they spend their time,” says Jenkins.
Faced with replacing the entertainment TV provides, you may feel challenged to find other activities for your children, and Jenkins offers words of encouragement. “Any activity is less sedentary than sitting in front of the television -- whether kids are playing sports with friends or playing a board game. Once the television is off, most kids will find countless creative ways to have fun.”