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Survey fingers TV over growing childhood obesity

Watching TV is a major culprit responsible for the increasing incidence of obesity in children, according to survey results released yesterday by the National Health Research Institute (NHRI).

The survey of children aged seven to 12 indicated that 20 to 30 percent of the participants watched more than two hours of TV a day. In addition, 60 to 70 percent watched more than two hours of TV on the weekends.

According to NHRI official Chang Hsin-yi (張新儀), there was a clear correlation between watching TV and obesity.

Chang said that children who watch more than four hours of TV have on average a higher body mass index than those who watch less than two hours each day.

In addition, the survey found that the amount of TV watched may be linked to household income. Chang said that a greater percentage of children from families with a monthly income of less than NT$30,000 watched more than two hours of TV than those from families with a household income of more than NT$70,000 a month.

Age was also identified as a determinant of the number of hours children spent in front of the TV set. Children in the seven-to-eight age bracket spent substantially less time watching TV than 11- to 12-year-olds. The report pointed out that there was a tendency for the amount of TV watching to increase with age.

The report also found that the likelihood of childhood obesity was closely tied to the incidence of obesity in other family members. Comparing families in which more than half of the members were overweight and those with less than half of the members overweight, the survey concluded that male participants with overweight family members were 61 percent more likely to be overweight themselves. Female participants were a mere 1.1 times more likely to be overweight.

The report also found that fast food is quickly being incorporated into children's diets.

More than 30 percent of those polled said they ate fast food more than once a week.

More than 50 percent ate dessert, including chocolate and pastries, more than twice a week, while more than 70 percent drank sodas or other high-sugar beverages at least once a week.

The study finally pointed out that children living in metropolitan areas were eating fast-food meals more frequently than those living in non-metropolitan areas.
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