New research published by Dr. Caroline Fitzpatrick and Dr. Linda Pagani of the University of Montreal finds a link between the time a child spends watching television and two specific measures of physical fitness, leg muscle strength and the child’s waistline.
In a statement released by the researchers, they explain the connection between screen time and waistlines, noting that the small effect can be quite dramatic when you take a long-term view. “A child who watches 18 hours of television [per week] at 4.5 years of age will by the age of 10 have an extra 7.6 milllimetres of waist because of his or her habits.”
In a previous study, Dr. Dmitri Christakis and his colleagues reported that 90% of babies 24 months old watched more than 1.5 hours of TV per day. In light of these more recent findings, perhaps there is enough demand for a children’s fitness channel.
