Obese Child? Take Away the Video Games
July 6, 2004(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- A new study adds to the evidence that childhood obesity is linked to sedentary behaviors.
Researchers from The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland found an association between childhood obesity in school-aged Swiss children and playing electronic video games. Television watching, paternal smoking, and having a mother work outside the home were other characteristics linked to obesity in children.
The study involved 872 children in first, second and third grade from 10 different schools in the northeastern part of Switzerland. Questionnaires were handed out to the children, which were then assessed by age, sex, nationality, number of siblings, smoking status of parents, television programs regularly watched, amount of time playing electronic games, breakfast consumption, watching television during meals, and snacking while watching television. Researchers used skinfold thickness and body mass index to define obesity and assess weight status.
Researchers found children of foreign nationality who were living in Switzerland were twice as likely to be obese as Swiss children. This suggests that cultural upbringing may have an effect on obesity.
Researchers conclude that there is a direct correlation between obesity and being stationary for long periods. This data confirms results from other populations and points to potential strategies for obesity prevention.
“To our knowledge this study provides the strongest evidence for an independent association between time spent playing electronic games and childhood obesity. Our findings suggest that the use of electronic games should be limited to prevent childhood obesity,” researchers conclude.
SOURCE: Obesity Research, 2004:12;896-903
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