Medindia LOGIN REGISTER
Medindia
Advertisement

Excessive Screen Time can Make Your Child Obese, Overweight

by Adeline Dorcas on August 10, 2019 at 2:56 PM
Excessive Screen Time can Make Your Child Obese, Overweight

Too much screen time can put your child at a higher risk of developing obesity, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the Scientific Reports journal.

A recently completed study indicates that Finnish children who spend a lot of time in front of screens have a heightened risk for overweight and abdominal obesity, regardless of the extent of their physical activity.

Advertisement


The increase in childhood obesity is one of the largest health problems globally. The study investigated links between screen time and overweight by utilizing the Finnish Health in Teens data (Fin-HIT), encompassing more than 10,000 children from across Finland. The children studied were between 9 and 12 years of age.

The subjects reported the time spent viewing television programs and films on screens and the amount of sedentary computer use outside school hours. The children were measured for height, weight and waist circumference.
Advertisement

The results demonstrated that heavy screen time is associated with both overweight and abdominal obesity. There was no variance in the findings by age, gender, native language, sleep duration and exercise during free time. Watching a lot of television was also associated with overweight and abdominal obesity in children who exercised the most.

"It must be noted that this cross-sectional study does not reveal anything about causality. It may be that overweight children spend more time in front of screens, or that abundant screen time may result in overweight," says researcher Elina Engberg from the University of Helsinki and Folkhälsan.

"Neither did the study measure the intensity of exercise; the participants were only asked about the amount of time they spent exercising in their free time. Further research on the combined effect of screen time, physical activity and diet on children's weight is needed."

Previously, not much research has been carried out on the link between screen time and children's abdominal obesity. Overweight in children and related adverse health effects are illustrated by the waist-to-height ratio as well as the body mass index.

Source: Eurekalert
Font : A-A+

Advertisement

Advertisement
Advertisement

Recommended Readings

Latest Child Health News

Group B Streptococcus Threat to Newborns
The presence of Streptococcus in the placenta was associated with a two- to three-fold increase in the probability of neonatal unit admission.
Can Maternal Discrimination Influence Baby's Brain Development?
Facing discrimination and acculturating during pregnancy could not only affect the mother but also potentially harm the baby's brain health.
Respiratory Infections Spike Among Kids in China
A number of pathogens are to blame for the rise in childhood acute respiratory diseases, according to Chinese health officials.
Measles Immunization Gaps in India Exposed
World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight the deficiencies in disease surveillance efforts.
Gender-Specific Brain Injury Interventions for Newborns
Need for gender-specific interventions in brain injuries has been highlighted by a new study due to its higher prevalence in newborn boys.
View All
This site uses cookies to deliver our services.By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Cookie Policy, Privacy Policy, and our Terms of Use  Ok, Got it. Close
×

Excessive Screen Time can Make Your Child Obese, Overweight Personalised Printable Document (PDF)

Please complete this form and we'll send you a personalised information that is requested

You may use this for your own reference or forward it to your friends.

Please use the information prudently. If you are not a medical doctor please remember to consult your healthcare provider as this information is not a substitute for professional advice.

Name *

Email Address *

Country *

Areas of Interests