Beware!Too much TV could make your child obese

Do you know the time spent in front of the television may have a lot more to do with your child’s ballooning belly than you think? Children today spend far more time in front of the TV set than in generations past, and it’s affecting their eating and sleep habits, too.
Watching at night can interfere with sleep, which may lead to weight gain. And shows today, especially those targeted at children, are packed with adverts for unhealthy food.
A study found that younger children see an average of three fast food commercials per day – 21 percent more than back in 2003. Older children see even more adverts, an average of those aged six to 11 and five per day for teens. And that’s just fast food commercials.
Research recently published in Pediatrics and Archive of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found that children are more likely to prefer the taste of products packaged with their favourite cartoon characters.
Since food advertising isn’t going away anytime soon, parents would do well to limit screen time to no more than two hours of non-educational screen time per day. It pays to help your children see behind the curtain. Point out the frequent use of cartoon characters in commercials aimed at the.
As a parent, it pays to model healthy eating habits. Keep plenty of fresh, healthy foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, lean meat) in the house and let your kids see you eating them. Turn off the TV and allow your kids go outside to play- they will end up healthier.