TVs cause health problems for kids, study shows
| Published: 1st March 2007 16:04 |
Television can lead to a number of different health problems among children, according to a new report.
A study found that possible problems which could be developed include obesity, autism, Alzheimer's disease and attention disorders.
The journal, published in the journal Biologist, found that on average, a six-year-old has watched more than a year's worth of television, while more than half of all three-year-olds have a telly in their bedroom.
"A growing body of empirical evidence is indicating that watching television causes physiological changes and not for the better," said Dr Aric Sigman, the report author.
"Most of these effects occur irrespective of the type of programme people watch - whether it is sex and violence or the Teletubbies. It is the medium, not the message."
Dr Sigman called for parents to stop young children from watching television altogether, while the amount older children watch should be cut.
