The August 2009 issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine reports too much “screen time” may raise blood pressure in kids. Researchers report a link between sedentary behavior and elevated blood pressure in children aged 3 through 8.
According to the study, regardless of body size, the act of sitting and watching a screen raises a child’s blood pressure. No difference was noted between watching TV, playing a video game, or using a computer. Other forms of sedentary activity – reading, doing homework, playing board games – did not have the same effect. One key cure for high blood pressure may just be “turn it off!”
While researched admitted that they did not factor in other issues related to sedentary behavior. “Other factors, which occur during excessive screen time, should also be considered in the context of sedentary behavior and elevated blood pressure development in children” study co-author Joe Eisenmann, PhD said. “TV viewing often comes with unhealthy snacking behavior, and also can lead to stress responses that disrupt sleep.”
Screen time is an additional factor distributions to the growing health issues in out children. Because it is not unusual for children to spend time on these activities, video games and physical fitness are often mutually exclusive. This, it appears that weaning children from video games is a difficult but essential task.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents limit children’s screen time to a maximum of two hours per day – a number usually exceeded daily by our children. So even the industry is concerned – for example the Cartoon Network has sponsored the Get Animated program. In addition, active participation on devices such as a Wi were not part of the study. However, this report adds to the growing evidence that our sedentary lifestyle is undermining our kids’s very life.
