A new study adds weight to the evidence that watching a lot of television as a child increases the risk of metabolic syndrome
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Limiting the time children spend watching television could be one way to protect their health in the future. This is the conclusion of a study from the University of Otago (New Zealand), which has strengthened the evidence that watching too much television as children can lead to health problems in adulthood.
“We’re talking about metabolic syndrome, a set of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat and abnormal cholesterol levels. The study showed that children who watched more than two hours of TV a day tended to have these conditions, which lead to an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and stroke,” she points out. Debora Berangerendocrinologist, with a specialization in Endocrinology and Metabology at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Rio de Janeiro (SCMRJ).
The research was published in the journal Pediatrics and used data from 879 participants in the Dunedin study. “Researchers found that those who watched more television 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 acquire sedentary behavior,” explains the doctor .
Television time
Time spent watching television was asked at ages 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and 15. On average, they watched just over two hours each weekday. “Those who watched more had a higher risk of metabolic syndrome in adulthood. Spending more time in front of the television in childhood was also associated with a higher risk of overweight and obesity and lower physical fitness,” says the doctor.
Overall, boys watched slightly more television than girls, and metabolic syndrome was more common in men than women (34% and 20%, respectively). The link between childhood television viewing and adult metabolic syndrome has been observed in both sexes and may be even stronger in women.
There was little evidence that watching less television as adults reduced the association between television viewing as children and adult health. Like any observational study, researchers have not been able to demonstrate that the association between watching television at a young age directly causes adult metabolic syndrome, but there are several plausible mechanisms by which longer television viewing times may lead to long-term health problems.
“Watching television has a low energy expenditure and can replace physical activity and reduce the quality of sleep. In childhood we learn many of our habits and, in the future, we will have difficulty changing them. Watching television is not the problem itself , rather a sedentary lifestyle. Children who are not used to spending energy and eating well are more likely to have bad lifestyle habits in the future”, says the endocrinologist.
The endocrinologist also says that screen time also promotes greater food intake, with children consuming more sugary drinks and high-fat diet products with fewer fruits and vegetables. “Even though the television can be turned off in adulthood, these habits can persist,” says the doctor.
The findings are important because screen time has increased in recent years with new technologies.
“Children today have much more access to screen-based entertainment and spend much more time sedentary. This could have even more harmful effects on adult health. These findings support the World Health Organization’s recommendation that children and adolescents should limit recreational screen time.”
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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.
