Toddlers who watch too much TV at risk of bigger waistlines in adult age

Recent studies revealed that toddlers who watch too much TV are at risk of getting bigger waist sizes later in life.

16:09 17 July 2012

Recent studies revealed that toddlers who watch too much TV are at risk of getting bigger waist sizes later in life. 

 

According to research, every hour that toddlers spend watching TV has an effect on their future waist size and their athletic ability when they turn ten. 

 

The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Montreal, found that the waistlines of ten-year-old kids who watched TV 18 hours a week when they were aged 4 were 7.6 mm bigger than those of kids who watched for only 14.8 hours a week.

 

Additionally, the study showed that the distance that children could jump also reduced by at least a third of a centimeter for every extra hour that they spent watching TV at the age of two.

 

To come up with the findings, the study monitored two-year-olds and four-year-olds who watched TV for 8.8 hours per week and 14.8 hours per week, respectively. However, up to  15% of the 1,314 children who were monitored was already watching TV for more than 18 hours per week. 

 

The complete results of the study were published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity. Researchers are hoping that the findings will help the authorities identify the factors that contribute to the rising problem of childhood obesity.