Kids + TV = Obesity x High Blood Pressure

Article by healthybalance.com staff
Posted on November 05, 2007

With winter approaching, many adults and children will spend more time indoors. For concerned parents, that means trying to limit kids’ time in front of the television. Numerous studies have proven a direct association between children watching television and an increase in obesity rates. The sad truth is, television not only leads to childhood obesity, but also programs them for lifelong obesity.

The Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit research organization, monitored 13 networks and watched a total of 2,613 ads that featured food and drinks targeted to children and teens. Of these ads, 44 percent targeting 8-12 year olds promoted candy, snacks or fast food. Companies have recognized children as up and coming consumers and are wasting no time in getting into their heads. With an average of two or more televisions per every American household, it is no surprise that children watch too much TV; companies are using it to corner their target market.

Sandy Rideout of the Kaiser Family Foundation said, “The vast majority of the foods that kids see advertised on television today are for products that nutritionists would tell us they need to be eating less of, not more of, if we’re going to get a handle on childhood obesity.”

In California, U.S. researchers released a new disturbing study directly linking television viewing to high blood pressure in obese children. Dr. Jeffrey Schwimmer of the University of California, San Diego and colleagues wrote in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, “There is a significant association between hours of television watched and both the severity of obesity and the presence of hypertension in obese children.”

High blood pressure often goes undetected in children. If undiagnosed, it can stealthily damage organs, especially the kidneys. The trends all point towards an inevitable unhealthy future for many children, unless preventive measures are taken by parents.

What can parents do? How do you keep your child away from the television? The simple solution would be to get rid of it, but that’s not usually an option. These tips will help you limit how much time your kids spend in front of the TV:

•Create a set schedule for when the TV is allowed to be on.
•Stick to a “No TV when the suns shining” rule to encourage kids to play outdoors.
•Limit the number of TVs in your household
•Keep TVs out of children’s bedrooms
•Watch TV together. This way you know what your kids are watching (and if it is appropriate) and you spend time together as a family.
•Chat about the advertisements with your kids. Point out how the ad is trying to convince them to buy things that are not good for them.
•Find activities at home and in your community that your children would be interested in participating in.

The solution is not limited to how much TV your children watch, but how educated they are about living healthy lives. Parents need to ensure that kids are getting healthy food options in the home and outside of the home. Raise them to be health and diet conscious consumers that expect more from companies than processed junk food.

Children are what they eat, and they eat what they watch.