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| Friday, February 13, 2009 |
| Put Down That Remote! |
I love TV! I have certain shows that I love to watch. They help me relax at the end of a busy day. They also take me out of my own reality for awhile and let me forget about some of the everyday stress in my life. Therefore, I would never tell anyone not to watch TV or not to let their children watch TV. However, I have always believed that there should be some kind of limit to TV watching. Now, a new study reported in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity confirms my belief.
The recent study found that teenagers who spend too much time in front of the television may be setting themselves up for a lifetime of bad eating habits. Daheia J. Barr-Anderson, PhD of the University of Minnesota and colleagues reported that “high-school students who watched five or more hours of TV each day had a higher intake of snack foods, fried foods, fast foods, sugar-sweetened beverages and trans-fats five years later”. The heavy TV watchers or “couch potatoes” reported much more unhealthy diets then lighter TV watchers. The researchers did not fully explain the reason for the link but stated that advertising for “fast food, snack food and sugar sweetened beverages” may play a role in eating habits and food choices. They also speculated that those who watch more TV are distracted by it while they eat and don’t pay attention to what they are eating.
Obviously, we need to promote a healthy lifestyle to teenagers. Teens need to develop healthy habits that can carry with them into adulthood. Parents need to emphasize limiting TV time (and maybe computer time too) and encourage healthy eating habits. They need to lead by example by exercising regularly, eating right and limiting their own TV watching. Teens are smart and don’t like to do things just because they are told to do so. They want to see parents who walk the walk and talk the talk.
There are many diseases associated with a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Heart disease, stroke, cancer, high blood pressure and diabetes are just a few diseases that may be prevented through a healthy lifestyle and diet. It’s important for parents to try to point teens in a healthy direction and to make healthy foods available to them. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than 2 hours of TV watching per day. This is a great guide for parents. Try to encourage your teen to do some physical activity. Walking, biking, dancing, baseball, soccer or aerobics classes are all great. Help your teen find something they like and then make time for them to do it.
Even if your child doesn’t show it, they look to you for guidance and for an example. So try to live a healthy lifestyle and limit your own TV watching. Who knows, you might both be better off in the long run.
- Jennifer
Labels: healthy living, healthy parenting, Jennifer
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posted by My Sensei @ Friday, February 13, 2009   |
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