Television watching has been linked to adolescent obesity
Watching more than two hours of television per day increases adolescents' chances of being overweight, according to an Indiana University study.
Millicent Fleming-Moran is an associate professor in the Department of Applied Health Science.
"The effect of TV is independent of eating and exercise habits," said Millicent Fleming-Moran, an associate professor in the Department of Applied Health Science in IUB's School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. "We found that the TV watching alone added a 50 percent risk of being overweight for high school students. This information suggests that reducing television exposure has as strong an influence on adolescent obesity levels as increasing exercise and healthier eating."
Researchers are unsure how television watching might lead directly to weight gain, but Fleming-Moran has an idea.
"Watching TV may be the most inactive behavior next to sleeping. When you watch TV you tend to be totally still and may even lie down. Sitting at the computer is not active behavior, but at least you are upright and moving your arms to type or use the mouse," she said.
Overweight kids have an 80 percent higher risk of continued obesity problems in adulthood. Adolescent obesity contributes to a range of health problems during high school and later life.
"Parents, schools and even health care providers should be thinking more critically about TV watching," Fleming-Moran said. "Some doctors have even written prescriptions for their younger patients to reduce their TV watching."
