Less computer gaming and television is slimming option for kids

A University at Buffalo study reveals that blocking access to television or the computer helps young overweight children in eating less and losing weight.

In the United States, approximately 16% of children aged 6 to 19 are overweight, a 45% increase over one decade. This new finding might just help solve America's growing problem of obesity.

Watching TV has been linked to obesity in previous studies, but the University at Buffalo research is the first to show significant weight loss in children whose TV and computer time had been reduced.

“Television viewing is related to consumption of fast food and foods and beverages that are advertised on television. Viewing cartoons with embedded food commercials can increase choice of the advertised item in preschoolers, and television commercials may prompt eating,” study authors said in a prepared statement.

The two-year research involved 70 children between four and seven years old who regularly watched TV or played computer games for at least 14 hours a week. All the selected children were in the heaviest quarter of their age group on the body mass index, or BMI.

During the study, half the group were allowed to continue in their old habits, while the other half were made to reduce their TV and computer habits by 50 percent. The researchers attached an electronic device called the TV Allowance (costing $100), made by Mindmaster Inc., to the children's televisions and computers. The TV or computer would not work after some configured amount of time.

The study results were impressive.

At the end of the study, 30% of kids (whose TV time was restricted) went from overweight to not being overweight. Only 18 percent had weight improvement (in this case, weight loss) in the control group.

The study also showed that the TV Allowance device also helps parents who cannot control their children while they are at work.

The researchers concluded: “Using technology to modify television viewing eliminates parental vigilance needed to enforce family rules and reduces the disciplinary action needed if a child exceeds his or her sedentary behavior limits. Perhaps most important, the device puts the choice of when to watch television in the child's control, as opposed to a rule such as ‘no television time until homework is completed,’”

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that children aged two and older should only have not more than two hours of television or computer time everyday. The younger ones should have none. In reality, this is not the case. Children usually spend 50% or more time than recommended in front of their computer or TV sets.