Unrestricted television viewing increases the risk of disease in adulthood
Establishing a time for children to watch television can be one way to help them maintain their health for the future. This is what a study by the University of Otago (New Zealand) indicates, which brought new data that reinforce the association between excess screens and health problems in adulthood.
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“We’re talking about metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat and abnormal cholesterol levels. Study shows that children who watch more than two hours of TV a day tend to have these conditions , leading to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke,” says endocrinologist Deborah Beranger.
Relation of screens to metabolic syndrome
The research was published in the journal Pediatrics and used data from 879 participants in the Dunedin study. “Researchers have found that those who I watched more television children between the ages of 5 and 15 were more likely to develop these conditions by age 45, demonstrating that there are long-term risks when children become sedentary,” explains the doctor.
Children aged 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 were asked about the time spent in front of the television. On average, they watched just over two hours on weekdays. “Those who watched more had a higher risk of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. More time spent watching television in childhood was also associated with a higher risk of overweight and obesity and lower fitness,” says Deborah Beranger.
Consequences of watching too much television
According to the endocrinologist, watching TV is linked to low energy expenditure, reduced quality of sleep and reduced physical activity. “During childhood we learn many of our habits and, in the future, we will find it difficult to change. The problem is not watching television per se, but a sedentary lifestyle. Children who are not used to spending energy and eating well are more likelihood of having bad habits in the future,” explains the professional.
In addition, Deborah Beranger says that screen time can promote the ingestion of Foods in excess, with children consuming more sugary drinks and high-fat diet products with fewer fruits and vegetables. “Even though the television may be turned off in adulthood, these habits can persist,” says the doctor.
Incidence of the disease according to gender
Overall, boys watched slightly more television than girls, and metabolic syndrome is more common in men than in women (34% and 20%, respectively). The link between childhood television viewing and adulthood metabolic syndrome has been observed in both genders and may be even stronger in women.
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There was little evidence that watching less television as an adult reduced the association between television viewing as a child and adult health. Like any observational study, the researchers failed to demonstrate an association between watching television at a certain age young directly causes adult metabolic syndrome, there are several plausible mechanisms by which longer television viewing times can lead to long-term health problems.
Importance of the study for the future
The results of these types of studies are important because screen time has increased in recent years with new technologies. “Children today have far more access to screen-based entertainment and spend far more time sedentary. This is likely to have even more detrimental effects on adult health. These findings support the World Health Organization’s recommendation that children and adolescents should limit their physical activity.” recreational time in front of the screen,” concludes Deborah Beranger.
By Pedro Del Claro
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
