Watching
TV is an ideal way to pass time --- it is enjoyable and does
not require any effort. Most children plug into the world of
television long before they enter school. In India, children
between four and 14 years form the largest segment of viewers
(23 percent) followed by 15-25 years olds (22 per cent) and
25-35 years old (20 per cent).
Mindless
eating? Blame the TV!
Studies
done by the Stanford University of Medicine, California, show
that TV viewing is directly linked with mindless eating. When
children watch TV, they snack more often on junk food – popcorn,
chips, ice cream, colas and biscuits – that are high in salt
and calories and low in fibre. At the same time, it keeps children
indoors and is largely responsible for the lack of physical
activity.
TV viewing
could lead to obesity because children tend to eat more when
glued to the small screen.
Diabetes?
Blame the TV
Studies
done on women suggest that sedentary behavior, especially prolonged
television viewing, significantly increases the risk of obesity
and diabetes. It was found that for every two hours spent watching
TV, there is a 23 per cent increase in the risk of obesity and
a 14 percent increase in diabetes. On the other hand, one hour
of brisk walking every day reduces obesity by 24 per cent and
diabetes by 34 per cent.
Less
Sleep? Blame the TV
A recent
study conducted at the University of Florence has revealed that
television viewing blocks the production of melatonin – the
sleep hormone which is produced around 9 pm and induces sleep.
Watching TV causes sleep deficit and can affect the child’s
alertness in school. When children stopped watching TV for a
week, the secretion of melatonin increased by 30 per cent and
improved sleep patterns.
Heavy
TV viewing induces passivity and reduces thinking skills in
children. It hampers creativity and the development of language
skills. Kids who live in “heavy” households – homes where the
TV is on always or most of the time – are less likely to be
able to read by the age of six. Violent programmes can make
children afraid or worried. This may make them aggressive and
some may end up experimenting with sex and alcohol.
The
Week, XTRA, June 19, 2005
