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TV in Childhood Tied to
Poor Health Later
posted 07/21/04
The amount of television watched
during childhood and adolescence is directly related to the risk of high
cholesterol levels, diabetes, smoking, poor fitness, and being overweight in
adulthood.
Although previous reports have linked childhood television viewing with adverse
health indications, no longitudinal studies have looked at the effects on adult
health, lead author Dr. Robert J. Hancox and colleagues, from the University of
Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, note.
Their study involved 1000 unselected subjects who were born in Dunedin in the
early 1970s and followed at regular intervals until 26 years of age. Television
viewing was assessed with interviews conducted at 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 21
years of age.
Television viewing between the ages of 5 and 15 years increased the risk of high
cholesterol levels, smoking, poor fitness, and being overweight in adulthood (p
< 0.05 for all). In contrast, such viewing had no effect on the risk of high
blood pressure.
In terms of population-attributable fractions, the authors estimate that 17% of
overweight, 15% of poor fitness, 15% of elevated cholesterol, and 17% of current
smoking in 26-year-olds could be explained by watching more than 2 hours per day
of television during childhood and adolescence.
"Our results suggest that excessive television viewing in young people is likely
to have far-reaching consequences for adult health," the authors conclude. "We
concur with the American Academy of Pediatrics that parents should limit
children's viewing to 1 to 2 hours per day; in fact, data suggest that less than
1 hour a day would be even better."
In a related editorial, Drs. David S. Ludwig and Steven L. Gortmaker, from
Harvard Medical School in Boston, note that "a likely explanation for these
findings is that dietary and other lifestyle habits learned in childhood and
influenced by television continue into adulthood. Ultimately, parents must
reclaim from television the responsibility for educating and entertaining their
young children."
Source: Diabetes In Control.com: Lancet 2004;364:226-227,257-262.
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