In the United States, childhood obesity is now considered a national priority. A large number of kids, mostly among two to five years old, are starting to develop unhealthy eating habits--eating too many sweet and salty foods. And according to a study published in the Journal of Children and Media, children who watch a lot of television have the worst nutrition.

The findings came from a three-year study of 423 parents and 354 children (ages two to four years old) in the Midwest. Researchers from the University of Michigan and University of Illionois wanted to learn if there was a connection between television viewing and the alarming rate of obesity in children.

They began asking parents to fill up questionnaires that asked about their children's boob tube habits and video game and Internet usage as well as their physical measurements. The researchers also observed for the kind of parenting techniques the subjects had when it came to watching television.

Three styles emerged. The first style seemed restrictive, where parents were very strict about what kind of programs their children were exposed to. The second style was more instructive, which involved two-way communication between parent and child about what was being shown on television. The third style, called social co-viewing, involved parents who were non-critical of the programs being watched.

Overall, the study showed that parents who enforced more limits when watching telelvision had the most success in changing their children's eating habits while those who had discussions and who passively endorsed television had less luck.­ Unfortunately, research also revealed that kids spend the most time watching television compared to any other medium of entertainment.

While it's easy to get caught up while watching television, parents must still watch their children's eating habits. A cookie or two is fine, but without supervision, this can easily become five, ten, or more. Be extra mindful of what your children are eating even when they're not in the dining room.


For more studies on children and obesity, check these out on FN:

• School Programs Can Help Prevent Obesity in Children--Study
• New Study: Obesity Can Be Predicted in Preschoolers + 5 Tips to Get Kids to Eat Healthier
• Overweight Kids Today May Have Difficulty Fitting in Years Later

(Photo by giovanni_giusti via Flickr Creative Commons)