Too much screen time for children can lead to obesity

DN Bureau

Parents take note! You might want to cut down on your kid's time screen time.

Representational image
Representational image


Washington D.C : Parents take note! You might want to cut down on your kid's time screen time. According to a new study, children who spend a lot of time in front of the screens are at a higher risk of gaining weight and abdominal obesity, regardless of how much they exercise.
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The results of the study were published in the journal 'Scientific Reports'. The increase in childhood obesity is one of the largest health problems globally.

The study, carried out at the Folkhalsan Research Centre in collaboration with the University of Helsinki, investigated links between  screen time and being overweight by utilising the Finnish Health in Teens data (Fin-HIT), encompassing more than 10,000 children from across Finland. The children studied were between 9 and 12 years of age.

children spend more time in front of screens, or that abundant screen time may result in overweight said researcher Elina Engberg from the University of Helsinki and Folkhalsan.

"Neither did the study measure the intensity of exercise. The participants were only asked about the amount of time they spent exercising in their free time. Further research on the combined effect of screen time, physical activity and diet on children's weight is needed," Engberg added. Previously, not much research has been carried out on the link between screen time and children's abdominal obesity. Overweight in children and related adverse health effects are illustrated by the waist-to-height ratio as well as the body mass index. (ANI)










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