Turn Off the Tube and Watch the Pounds Melt Away

Television is America’s most popular form of entertainment.
Every night, millions of viewers tune in to catch an episode of
their favorite law-and-order show, game show, or sitcom. And
America’s love affair with television shows no signs of abating
anytime soon. Screens are getting bigger; reality shows are
proliferating; and television has quickly become the top source
of information for the average American.

But television also has its downside. It has been linked to
reading problems in children, attention deficit disorder, and
crime. It’s been called the ultimate time-waster–a blinking box
of little aesthetic or literary value. And now there’s research
to suggest that television may also cause weight gain in
children.

A study conducted at Stanford University a few years ago showed
that children who reduced the amount of time they spent watching
television were leaner than those who did not curtail their
viewing time. Given the fact that obesity among youngsters is on
the increase, tube time is a significant public health concern.

It has been shown that children who are overweight are at
greater risk of suffering from heart disease and hypertension.
Therefore, anything that promotes weight gain should be
eliminated from children’s lives–and television certainly falls
into that category.

For most children, watching TV involves more than just viewing
cartoons. It means playing video games, watching music videos,
watching videotapes, and general channel surfing. It has been
estimated that the average American watches as much as four
hours of television a day–a large amount, by any measurement.
Children’s dependence on television may be difficult to break,
given the fact that television is so much a part of the American
culture.

There are other reasons why television may promote obesity.
Children’s programming is filled with commercials touting sugary
cereals and candy bars. It has been shown that children are
heavily influenced by television advertising; therefore, they
are far more likely to indulge in sweets after watching
television on a Saturday morning. Since freedom of speech makes
it difficult to ban commercials featuring non-nutritious foods,
it is up to parents to monitor their children’s television
viewing. Also, parents need to steer clear of the sugary cereal
aisle when going grocery shopping.

Another reason that television is linked to obesity is because
it promotes inactivity. Many people watch television by lounging
on a sofa, bed, or futon. They can burn few calories in a prone
position. Also, the fact that they’re watching television means
that they are not engaging in physical activities such as
exercise. Television promotes a sedentary lifestyle that leads
to additional weight gain.

But how can you effectively fight television? Some families
have actually thrown out their TVs in the ultimate show of
defiance. If you aren’t ready to take such a drastic step, you
might consider limiting your family’s viewing time to a single
hour each day. Another idea is to hold a “no TV” night where you
encourage your children to engage in sports, games, and other
activities. Forcing your children to plan their viewing can be
another effective step. That way, they won’t waste precious time
cruising through the TV channels.

It is true that television cannot shoulder the entire blame for
childhood obesity. However, medical research has now shown it is
a contributing factor. There are also indications that excessive
computer use can also contribute to weight gain. In fact, this
might be the major health issue of the future, since so many
children are doing their research on line and typing their
reports using computer keyboards.

As a parent, in order to ensure that your children are a
healthy weight, you have to be actively involved in their lives.
Monitor not only what your children are watching, but also what
they are eating. Encourage healthy snacks whenever possible, and
discourage snacking while watching television. Requiring your
children to eat at the dining room table rather than in front of
the television can also be an important step. In the end, being
involved in your children’s weight reduction program is the key
to ensuring that they lead healthy lives.

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