Screen Time Driving Youth Obesity Epidemic

by Michael Smith, MedPage Today. June 27, 2011.

Too much time parked in front of the television or computer screen is driving the epidemic of childhood obesity in the U.S., according to a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

And it’s not just that many teens are couch potatoes, the academy argues in the July issue of Pediatrics: TV advertising drives sales of junk food, children and teens tend to snack while watching TV or online, and late-night use may interfere with sleep.

Currently, the researchers found, U.S. children and teens spend an average of seven hours a day using various forms of media – more time than they spend doing anything except sleeping. READ…