Obesity is one of the major health concerns among both children and adults in the United States today. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that children should not watch more than two hours of television a day. However, it is commonly seen that on an average American children watch television for 2 to 3 hours in a day. Having a television set in kid’s bedroom is not unusual for an average American household and this makes it easy for them to have ready access to it.
Not only are children inactive while they are watching television, they often snack on unhealthy foods. Establishing unhealthy habits as a child can continue into adulthood and be highly detrimental for the child’s health. The fact that children spend a substantial portion of their lives watching television needs special attention in every possible way.
Treatment for Childhood Obesity
Long term diet management, daily structured exercise and behavior modification is the cornerstone for treating weight problems in children.
Long term diet management, daily structured exercise and behavior modification is the cornerstone for treating weight problems in children.
(1) Decrease in physical activity
(2) Increased calorie consumption while watching TV.
Mantra to Prevent Childhood Obesity – Vigorous Physical Activity
Being physically very active is the mantra to prevent pediatric obesity rather than concentrating efforts at restricting energy consumption.
Being physically very active is the mantra to prevent pediatric obesity rather than concentrating efforts at restricting energy consumption.
(4) Reduced resting metabolism.
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Tips to Control Obesity in Children
Obesity is resistant to instant remedies and its management is a long-term endeavor. Here are a few tips to control obesity in children.
Obesity is resistant to instant remedies and its management is a long-term endeavor. Here are a few tips to control obesity in children.
The studies suggest that reducing television viewing may help to reduce the risk for obesity or help promote weight loss in obese children.
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Hypertension and Obesity in Children Attributed to Television Viewing
Researchers have determined that television viewing is not only linked to childhood obesity, but also to hypertension in children.
Researchers have determined that television viewing is not only linked to childhood obesity, but also to hypertension in children.
Another study examined the relationship between television watching, energy intake, physical activity, and obesity status in US boys and girls, aged 8 to 16 years. It concluded that the prevalence of obesity is lowest among children watching one or fewer hours of television a day, and highest among those watching four or more hours of television a day.
Television watching was positively associated with obesity among girls, even after controlling for age, race or ethnicity, family income, weekly physical activity, and energy intake.
As the prevalence of overweight increases, the need to reduce sedentary behaviors and promotion of a more active lifestyle becomes essential. Clinicians, public health interventionists, parents, teachers should all encourage active lifestyles to balance the energy intake of children.
References:
1. Television Watching, Energy Intake, and Obesity in US Children
Results From the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994
Carlos J. Crespo, DrPH, MS; Ellen Smit, PhD, RD; Richard P. Troiano, PhD, RD; Susan J. Bartlett, PhD; Caroline A. Macera, PhD; Ross E. Andersen, PhD
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155:360-365.
2. How Does Increased Television Watching 'Weigh Into' Childhood Obesity?
Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 147, Number 4 (October 2005), published by Elsevier.
3. Television viewing and childhood obesity. Robinson TN. Division of General Pediatrics and Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA. [email protected]
Pediatr Clin North Am. 2001 Aug;48(4):1017-25.
Source-Medindia
