|
 In particular, the AHA Obesity Committee recommends removing TVs and
other screens from bedrooms and excluding them from meal times,
creating daily "device-free" time, encouraging outdoor play and for
parents to enforce appropriate screen time by modeling these
behaviors themselves.
"We've seen such dramatic changes in the nature of screen-based
recreational devices in the last 10 years, and our behaviors are
quite different, too," said lead author Tracie Barnett of the
National Institute of Scientific Research in Quebec, Canada.
Sedentary behavior is more than an absence of physical activity, the
authors note in the journal Circulation. It includes time spent
watching TV, reading and riding in a car. Increased sedentary time,
including screen time and sitting time, is associated with an
increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity, the authors
write.
Obesity now affects 1 in 6 children and adolescents in the U.S.,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Current
guidelines recommend limiting screen time to less than two hours per
day, yet with the number of screens used both at home and at school,
researchers are looking at sedentary behavior and physical activity
for answers.
"Since we have portable devices, you might think we're using them
while standing or moving, but the sedentary behaviors are still
there," Barnett told Reuters Health by phone. "And we're learning
more about what happens when we have multiple screens, such as a TV
and a phone."
The committee looked at recent research around sedentary behavior,
childhood obesity, heart health outcomes and interventions that
change screen time. They note that traditional TV watching at home
has decreased among children and teens, but screen time has
increased, and kids are using other devices around the house to
watch movies or online videos, play games and chat with others.
[to top of second column] |
A 2015 study by nonprofit organization Common Sense Media found that
U.S. teens spend 6 hours 40 minutes per day on screens, including
about two hours of TV, and younger kids spend just over 4.5 hours
per day on screens. Screen time rises substantially as children
enter their teen years, and girls and minorities tend to log
slightly more time on screens.
Previous studies found that decreasing screen time, both at school
and at home, reduced sedentary behavior. The most successful
interventions incorporated more parental involvement and structural
changes in the home environment.
"Most people are starting to realize this is a serious problem,
particularly in this country," said Jennifer Roberts of the
University of Maryland in College Park, who wasn't involved in the
advisory.
"When we're sedentary at work and home and try to cram in a
45-minute gym session, that's already a challenge," she told Reuters
Health by phone. "How can we incorporate physical activity into our
lives where we achieve some movement by getting from Point A to
Point B?"
Ultimately, the AHA Obesity Committee writes, future research should
look at specific screen time and give device-specific guidelines.
Also, scientists must look at the new patterns of binge-watching
streaming TV services and using several devices at the same time.
"We need to emphasize face-to-face interactions, prioritize time
outdoors and create supportive environments with parks and walkable
streets," Barnett said. "Instead of limiting screen time, prioritize
other activities that will have a positive impact on overall screen
time."
SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2P62fkf Circulation, online August 6, 2018.
[© 2018 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2018 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
