http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/10/19/twin_child_scourges_obesity_and_television/

Twin child scourges: obesity and television

By Steven Gortmaker  |  October 19, 2004

OUR CHILDREN are spending more time than ever in front of the television. Their viewing opportunities are no longer contained to afternoons and Saturday mornings; many networks are devoted to entertaining them all day. While parents may be cognizant of the negative effects that excessive sedentary behavior can have on children, we may not be as aware of the persistent messages children receive from advertisers about unhealthy foods. The food industry spends billions of dollars each year to woo our children to their high calorie products that possess little or no nutritional value. On average a child watching TV sees a commercial from the food industry every five minutes.

Childhood obesity is a rapidly spreading epidemic in the United States. Since 1980, the proportion of overweight children ages 6 to 11 has more than doubled, and the rate for overweight adolescents has tripled. The connection between television viewing and obesity was established almost two decades ago, yet our habits have not changed to protect our children.

A study in Boston revealed that 60 percent of middle school age children have a television in their bedroom, and a national study showed that 75 percent of parents do not care how much television their children watch.

Television watching is directly linked with obesity. The excessive sedentary time in front of the television is coupled with, and compounded by, intense exposure to advertisements promoting so called "junk foods" -- low nutritional quality, high calorie foods such as sugar sweetened beverages. Exposure to food advertisements has been linked to an overall increase in calorie intake, overconsumption of fast food, candy, and soda, as well as underconsumption of fruits and vegetables. Kids are being taught to lead unhealthy lives from a very young age, and we are seeing the effects of the bad habits they are forming in the rapidly increasing cases of obesity in young children.

Childhood obesity should be easy to prevent. However, parents have typically been unreceptive to addressing the problem. Parents of various socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicities are reluctant to acknowledge the problem because they often feel that their parenting skills are being called into question. Studies have shown that parents frequently find it difficult to limit television time and deny requests for junk foods.

We realize that confronting this problem is not as simple as turning off the television. And it is not a responsibility for parents alone. That's why organizations such as the United Way of Massachusetts Bay are engaging schools, after-school programs, and the media to encourage activities that lead to healthy lifestyles. Protecting our children from obesity will take effort and may require alterations in routine or rules; however, the rewards will allow our children to live fuller and longer lives.

There are a few simple steps that every parent can take to ensure their children live a healthier lifestyle. First, never put a TV in your child's bedroom. If your children are young enough, you should try to remove any TVs currently in their bedrooms. Also, limit the number of hours your child is allowed to spend watching TV.

With the school year now underway, consider this change in routine as an opportunity to enact restrictions on your children's television hours and encourage a healthier lifestyle. One approach, which may take some of the burden off of parents, is enrolling children in after-school programs or sports teams. These activities will keep children engaged, active, and social through the afternoon hours that they might otherwise spend watching television. Finding alternative activities is as easy as calling your town's recreation department, visiting your local YMCA or Boys & Girls Club, or contacting Boston Centers for Youth and Families for a listing of low- or no-cost programs available in the City of Boston.

When children do watch television, protect them from being peppered by commercials aimed to tempt them with unhealthy foods by watching videos or prerecorded shows so you can fast-forward through the commercials.

We are not suggesting throwing out your television or even prohibiting it. Limit your child's viewing time to less than two hours a day and make "junk food" a treat rather than a staple in their diet. Children learn their health lifestyle from their parents and other significant adults in their lives. We must serve as role models and help them to make healthy decisions and cultivate good habits by restricting television, encouraging more active pursuits and educating our children about healthy eating habits. In the battle against obesity we need to lead with our actions as well as our words.

Dr. Steven Gortmaker is a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health and serves on the Advisory Committee of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay Nutrition and Fitness Initiative.