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Action on Smoking and Health
A National Legal-Action Antismoking Organization Entirely Supported by Tax-Deductible Contributions
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New Study: Kids Viewing 2 or More Hours of TV Daily More Likely to Become Overweight Smokers [07/23-5]
Excerpts from: TV 'turns kids into fat smokers'
Herald Sun [07/16/04]
Children who watch two or more hours of television each day are much more likely to grow into overweight smokers with high cholesterol, New Zealand researchers have found.
In a long-term study of 1000 children, the scientists proved a clear association between more than two hours a day of television and increased weight, raised cholesterol and addiction to cigarettes by the time the children reached their mid 20s.
The link remained strong regardless of socioeconomic status, the child's weight at age five, or whether the child's parents were overweight or smokers, said study leader Dr Bob Hancox, a developmental health expert from New Zealand's Otago University.
"Among all 26-year-olds, 17 per cent of overweight, 15 per cent of raised blood cholesterol, 17 per cent of smoking and 15 per cent of poor fitness can be attributed to watching television for more than two hours a day during childhood and adolescence," Dr Hancox said.
"Our results suggest that excessive television viewing in young people is likely to have far-reaching consequences for adult health."
Parents should limit their children's viewing to less than one hour a day, Dr Hancox said in today's issue of the international medical journal, The Lancet.
Parents who led by example and limited their children's television viewing also were likely to enjoy health benefits themselves, Dr Hancox said.
"We believe that reducing television viewing should become a population health priority," he added.
click here to view a summary of this study
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