TVs in Children’s Bedrooms Cause Kids to Gain Weight

Nearly every percentage found through studies and tests is important when it's relative to weight gain issues. Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are as prevalent as they ever were in the U.S., so any study that helps provide insight into the root of those issues is worthwhile.

According to a study conducted at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, researchers mentioned that 33% of children and adolescents in the U.S. are either overweight or obese. About 71% of children and adolescents aged 8 to 18 have a television in their bedroom.

Another study conducted by the University of Queensland, Australia noted that obesity has tripled among U.S. children and adolescents in the past 30 years. The researchers found that a positive can come out of TVs in the bedroom if "active video gaming" is instituted.

More childhood obesity facts can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

The University of Dartmouth study surveyed 6,522 boys and girls in 2003 and recorded ownership of a bedroom television, body mass index, and height and weight (two years and four years later as well). A total of 59% of the children reported having a bedroom television and that was associated with a body mass index increase, which the researchers believe may have occurred from interrupted sleeping patterns and/or exposure to food advertising.

The University of Queensland study included 75 overweight or obese children and had them participate in a 16-week program that involved a weight management program and a weight management program coupled with an active gaming system. The results showed some progress, with the active gaming participants logging an average of 7.4 minutes of physical activity per day, and there was no change among those who solely participated in the weight management program.

These two studies found that childhood obesity could potentially be solved despite the presence of a television in the bedroom. If the sedentary children participate more in active video games, which is more than plausible since many own a television and the prevalence of active video games has increased dramatically in recent years, then problems of obesity, which lead to diabetes and heart disease, could see a decrease in the years to come.

To read more about these studies, visit this news release.