The Relationship between Television and Childhood Obesity

English 112-0903B-14

Abstract There is a link between childhood obesity and watching television. Allowing children to watch too much television, eating the wrong types of food and not being physically active is contributing to the health problems that are associated with childhood obesity. Childhood obesity can lead to elevated cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Children seem to spend more time watching television, playing video games and on the computer than anything else. Children between the ages of 8 and 18 spend more than 40 hours per week watching television, on the computer or playing video games. Experts suggest that parents need to limit the amount of time that their children spend watching television and encourage more physical activities.

The Relationship between Television and Childhood Obesity The greatest health risk facing today’s children is not a disease or abuse. It is obesity. Obesity among children is at an epidemic level and needs to be of concern to anyone who has children. Childhood obesity has dramatically increased in the past decades. (Wilmore, 1994). Obesity is defined as an amount of excessive fat. (Lohman, 1987). Children tend to be obese more today than several years ago. There have been reports that suggest childhood obesity is linked to the watching of television, playing video games, being on the computer and the types of food that they consume while watching television. I plan to prove that these finding are true and that I agree with them. Television is the medium with which children spend the most time. Children today spend approximately 40 or more hours per week in non physical activities. More than 25 percent watch 4 or more hours of television a day, about 65 percent watch