TURN OFF T

URN OFF THE TV and eat meals as a family if you're concerned about your child's weight. Those are two easy messages from a recent study on preventing schoolchildren from becoming overweight.

We've heard for years about the downside of TV watching, and the study really drives home the link between tube time and physical inactivity.

The research is significant because it tracked a large number of children across the nation. Scientists from the University of Missouri-Columbia followed 8,000 children from kindergarten through third grade; they published their research in this month's Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

The researchers found that children who were never overweight averaged about 14 hours of TV and video watching a week, while their overweight counterparts averaged about 16 hours a week. That may sound like a small difference--only 15 to 20 minutes a day--but it added up.

No one knows why, but researchers theorize that the more time kids zone out in front of the tube, the less time they spend burning calories in active play. Also, children who watch more TV are exposed to more advertising for sugary and fast foods.

TV time should be limited to no more than two hours daily for kids over the age of 2, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the federal Committee on Prevention of Obesity in Children. The groups recommended there be no TV at all for kids under age 2.

They also recommend taking the TV out of children's bedrooms--or not putting one there in the first place.

Kids with TVs in the bedroom are 30 percent more likely to be overweight, according to a study at Dartmouth last year.

Unfortunately, 36 percent of all children from infancy to age 6 have TVs in their bedrooms, not to mention VCRs, DVD players and computers, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

"Those with a TV in their room spend an average of 22 minutes more a day watching TV and videos than other children do," the group reported a few years ago.

As the study revealed, watching just an extra 15 to 20 minutes a day increases the risk of being overweight.

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WHAT'S A PARENT TO DO?

To keep kids from zoning out endlessly in front of the TV and potentially becoming unhealthy in the process:

Keep electronic media in a family area. Not only is it better for your child's weight, but you can better monitor sex and violence on TV and the Internet if you're in the same room.

Limit total screen time. Most parents limit shows with lots of sex and violence, but it's important to limit total TV time, even with educational shows, and also to count movies, video games and computer time.

Do not use the TV as background noise--turn it off if no one is watching.

Find other safe and affordable distractions for your children, like playing and reading. The Television Turnoff Network has a list of fun things for kids to do, and ways for parents to cope, online at tvturnoff.org.

Along with these AAP suggestions, I'd add: Don't eat while the TV is on. When you're distracted by TV, you eat more food--even if you're already full. You can prevent this mindless overeating by removing TVs from eating areas such as the kitchen and dining room.

JENNIFER MOTL is a registered dietitian. Formerly of Fredericksburg, she now lives in Wisconsin.

Date published: 1/21/2007

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