Surprise! Watching TV Makes Children’s Diabetes Worse
By Jon Herring
I have never seen a study suggesting that spending more time in front of the TV can improve a person’s health, or make them smarter or more socially adept. But I’ve seen quite a few that show the opposite.
Last week, WebMD reported on a new study, conducted in Norway, that examined the effects of television watching and computer use on children with Type I diabetes. The average age of the 538 subjects in the study was 13. The researchers matched the children’s television habits to their levels of HbA1c, a measure of blood-sugar control.
They found that for every hour of increased TV viewing, the children’s HbA1c levels rose. The highest HbA1c levels were in those who watched the most TV. Interestingly, the researchers found no correlation between time spent using a computer and HbA1c levels.
This should come as no surprise. Obviously, time spent in front of the TV instead of taking part in activities that require physical or mental exertion is going to be deleterious to anyone’s health. Not to mention the fact that watching TV is generally associated with snacking and other poor eating habits.
Television might make for a cheap babysitter, but its long-term effects are costly. So when you see your children plop down in front of the TV, encourage them to pick up a book instead… or take a walk outside… or sit down and have a conversation with you. Help them make this a habit, and not only will they be healthier, they will probably enjoy greater personal fulfillment too.
__________________________________________________
This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2064, 06-09-07], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.
I have never seen a study suggesting that spending more time in front of the TV can improve a person’s health, or make them smarter or more socially adept. But I’ve seen quite a few that show the opposite.
Last week, WebMD reported on a new study, conducted in Norway, that examined the effects of television watching and computer use on children with Type I diabetes. The average age of the 538 subjects in the study was 13. The researchers matched the children’s television habits to their levels of HbA1c, a measure of blood-sugar control.
They found that for every hour of increased TV viewing, the children’s HbA1c levels rose. The highest HbA1c levels were in those who watched the most TV. Interestingly, the researchers found no correlation between time spent using a computer and HbA1c levels.
This should come as no surprise. Obviously, time spent in front of the TV instead of taking part in activities that require physical or mental exertion is going to be deleterious to anyone’s health. Not to mention the fact that watching TV is generally associated with snacking and other poor eating habits.
Television might make for a cheap babysitter, but its long-term effects are costly. So when you see your children plop down in front of the TV, encourage them to pick up a book instead… or take a walk outside… or sit down and have a conversation with you. Help them make this a habit, and not only will they be healthier, they will probably enjoy greater personal fulfillment too.
__________________________________________________
This article appears courtesy of Early to Rise [Issue #2064, 06-09-07], the Internet's most popular health, wealth, and success e-zine. For a complimentary subscription, visit http://www.earlytorise.com/.
posted by Oak Stone at 5:40 PM
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