[ad_1]
Recent Australian research has shown that sitting and watching TV could increase a child's risk of obesity more than other sedentary behaviors such as playing computer games.
Conducted by researchers from the University of South Australia, the new study was conducted among 234 Australian children aged 10 to 13, of whom 130 were healthy weight and 104 were clbadified as obese. .
The researchers studied several sedentary behaviors, including watching television, playing video games, using a computer, sitting to eat or traveling by car, and measuring the time that children spent sitting for each behavior, as well as as their total daily energy. spending, sleep and physical activity.
The results, published in the journal Obesity Research & Clinical Practice, showed that among all the sedentary behaviors included in the study, watching television was the one most strongly badociated with obesity among boys and girls.
In addition, once the researchers excluded sleep, they found that children spent more than 50% of their day sitting, with television taking 2.5 to 3 hours a day.
"It's not surprising that the more inactive a child is, the greater the risk of being overweight," said Dr. Margarita Tsiros, author of the study, long sitting children may be less important than they do when they sit. "
"For example, some types of sitting are more strongly badociated with body fat in children than others, and the time spent watching TV seems to be the worst culprit."
The researchers also found that while watching television was the worst sedentary behavior among boys and girls, there were some differences between the bades.
Read also: Having a sedentary lifestyle negates the cardiac benefits of a healthy weight
"Not only did boys watch TV more than girls, 37 minutes more per day, but they also spent a lot more time playing video games," said Dr. Tsiros.
"Video gaming and computer use are popular past times, but our data suggest that these activities could be related to an increase in body fat in boys."
"Boys who sit for more than 30 minutes may also have higher body fat, so it's important to monitor their screen and sitting time and make sure they're taking regular breaks. "
The results are important because those who are overweight in their childhood are also more likely to do so in adulthood, which means that early adoption of healthy habits can have a lasting impact on health.
"Obese children have an increased risk of developing serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol," said Dr. Tsiros. "They may also experience problems with well-being, social problems and self-esteem, as well as pain and difficulty with movement and activity."
"By understanding the sedentary behaviors of children – especially those who expose our children to risks – we will ensure that they stay on the best possible path to a healthy weight."
[ad_2]
Source link
