New Study Reveals Perceptions of Children’s TV Viewing

The Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has announced the availability of the March 2007 highlights report, "Reducing Children's TV Time to Reduce the Risk of Childhood Overweight: The Children's Media Use Study". This report highlights children’s and parents’ perceptions of television usage to better understand the barriers and opportunities for reducing children's time watching television.

Data from national surveys conducted during the 1980s and 1990s show a connection between the prevalence of overweight and the amount of time children spend watching TV. In 2003, the average American child spent over 4 hours watching TV, videos, and DVDs. After adding in the time spent using computers and videogames, the average child was exposed to over 6 hours of media each day. The parallel increase in the amount of media available to children and the prevalence of overweight is probably not a coincidence. This association may result from the displacement of physical activity, decreased energy expenditure, and/or increased snacking opportunities while watching TV.                                         

Because the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting screen time to 1-2 hours per day for children over age 2, this study was designed to:

  • Understand the forces that influence children to watch TV and use media; 
  • Explore the challenges of and opportunities for limiting children’s screen time to 2 hours per day; and
  • Develop strategies for reducing TV use that will work for families.

Interestingly, the study showed both positive and negative effects of media use as reported by parents. Parents described the benefits of media use to be: keeping children safely occupied, the educational content of computer programs and some TV programs, and use of TV time as a reward. Some of the concerns parents expressed include: the TV time could be used for something more valuable, its harmful content may cause psychological effects, and the physical health consequences.

The study found common barriers to reducing TV time were: (1) failure to recognize a problem, (2) reliance on TV as a babysitter, (3) family conflict, and (4) reluctance to reduce parents’ own TV use.

Recommendations were presented to combat these problems, including:

  • Providing a broader message about the negative effects of excessive TV viewing and its connection to increased risk of overweight;
  • Defining the 2-hour limit; and
  • Tailoring messages to specific audiences.

For additional information, please contact:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Nutrition and Physical Activity Communication Team (NuPAC)
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel: 404-639-3311

Source: Reducing Children's TV Time to Reduce the Risk of Childhood Overweight: The Children's Media Use Study, CDC, March 2007.


 

 
 
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