A project funded by the European Commission to fight against child obesity, has recommended that televisions be removed from nursery and also from bedrooms at home. The project involves nine countries, including the UK to “develop and test an innovative and evidence based obesity prevention programme for children aged four to six years”.
The project has been commissioned as fears that obesity levels in pre-school children are increasing. According to a recent survey, obesity among children who are pre-school age has soared to alarming levels. In Spain, almost 40 percent of girls who are pre-school age are either obese or overweight. More than 20 percent of UK children start school either classed as overweight or obese.
The co-ordinator of the project, Yannis Manios from Athens believes that there is a distinct link between sedentary activities like watching TV and becoming overweight. The study also indicates that children of pre-school age will be more likely to join in physical activities and become active than older children who are harder to influence. However, exposure to food and drinks which are full of sugar is also a problem, as humans are naturally attracted to the sweet taste of these food and drink products, leading to obesity problems.
Professor Manios advises parents to remove televisions from kid’s bedrooms and not to have lots of unhealthy snacks in the cupboards. He said:
“Parents should also remember that their role is not only to provide healthy food and drink options but to act as a role model themselves, since kids are copying their behaviours.”
The TV is very dangerous for children on many levels
Please see below details of a petition that the TV should carry a health warning to guide parents regarding their child’s TV viewing.
TV programmes directed at children should carry a government health warning
Responsible department: Department for Culture, Media and Sport
We petition that all television programmes directed at children should carry a government health warning. There have been many studies on the effects of the television on children. Most have come to the conclusion that it is better not to expose young children to the TV at all. Some national governments like the French have issued warnings about children and TV exposure. Researchers have found that watching television undermines the development of children under three, encouraged passivity, delayed language acquisition, increased agitation, reduced concentration and increased the incidence of sleep disorders. The French broadcasting authority Conseil Superior Audiovisuel (CSA) actually banned TV channels from marketing shows aimed at toddlers. With the recent riots in London and other cities involving many children there is strong evidence that television violence can cause violence in society.
Comment by Stefano Mazzeo — April 7, 2012 @ 4:50 pm
TV programmes directed at children should carry a government health warning
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/12644
Comment by Stefano Mazzeo — April 7, 2012 @ 4:52 pm
how sad that their only concern is for the childs weight, not the irreparable mental damage caused by being subjected to the crass nonsence that is modern tv.
Comment by mr bleeding obvious — April 7, 2012 @ 7:38 pm
Hi,
I am a delhi based documentary maker and child rights professional.
very interesting. can I get details of the study.
sanjay singh
Comment by sanjay — April 8, 2012 @ 6:10 am