TV and Obesity

Television, video games, and computer use are major contributors to the rise of childhood obesity. Before these technologies became ubiquitous, children would naturally run outside to play. Now, more often than not, our kids are content to sit on the couch with the remote control and a bag of chips.

The Research Evidence

Studies have consistently proven that children who watch excessive television are significantly more likely to be obese. A landmark study published in The Lancet in 2004 followed 1,000 children born in 1972-1973 over the course of 26 years. The results were striking: almost 50% of individuals who consistently watched 3 or more hours of TV per day were overweight, compared to only 25% of those who consistently watched less than 1 hour daily. The more hours of TV a child consistently watched, the more likely that child was to be overweight.

Recent research from the CDC confirms these findings, showing that 58-79% of children engage in screen time for more than 2 hours daily, far exceeding recommended guidelines.

The Bedroom Television Problem

Putting a television in a child’s bedroom raises the risk of obesity even further. A 2002 study from Columbia University revealed that preschoolers with a TV in their bedroom were 31% more likely to be overweight than children without bedroom televisions. A TV in the bedroom instantly adds about an hour of increased viewing time per day.

The relationship between TV watching and obesity is complex. Does watching TV make a child overweight, or does being overweight cause a child to watch more TV? The answer appears to be both, creating a vicious cycle that can be difficult to break.

The Downward Spiral

Overweight children often face teasing in school and exclusion during team selection in gym class. They tend to experience discomfort in their knees and ankles when running. Embarrassed that they can’t keep up with other children, they gravitate toward more sedentary activities like watching TV and eating. This causes additional weight gain, which worsens the situation. The overweight child starts avoiding sports altogether and further increases TV and computer time. Eventually, the child may become obese and unable to perform even simple activities like walking comfortably.

How Television Causes Weight Gain

Television contributes to weight gain through multiple mechanisms:

Physical Inactivity

Most importantly, children remain completely inactive while watching TV. This sedentary time displaces opportunities for physical activity and calorie burning.

Commercial Influence

The average child sees 40,000 commercials per year—mostly for high-calorie, high-fat foods. Companies spend enormous amounts on these child-targeted commercials because they work. These advertisements prompt children to crave unhealthy foods. How many commercials have you seen for fruits, vegetables, or whole grains? These healthy foods are rarely promoted on television because they’re not branded items and don’t generate the same profits.

Mindless Eating

We’ve all experienced the mindless eating that occurs during TV viewing. A child becomes so engrossed in a program that they don’t realize they’ve eaten an entire bag of chips. Research shows that during the week, children consume 18% of their total daily calories while watching TV. On weekends, this increases to 26% of their daily calories.

Metabolic Slowdown

New studies indicate that children’s resting metabolic rates are actually lower while watching TV than when sitting still and staring at a wall without the TV on. This means they burn fewer calories during viewing time. It’s not entirely clear why this occurs, but it may be because they fidget less while watching or because they enter a trance-like state.

Taking Action

Understanding how television contributes to childhood obesity is the first step toward prevention. In tomorrow’s post, I’ll share specific strategies to prevent TV from causing weight gain in your child. Stay tuned for practical, actionable advice you can implement immediately.

The connection between screen time and obesity is real and significant. By recognizing this relationship and taking proactive steps, parents can help their children develop healthier habits that will benefit them throughout their lives.