Outdoor play activities 'help cut screen time'
15/06/2010 Children who take part in sports and outdoor play activities are less likely to exceed the recommended limits for time spent in front of the TV, a new study has found.
The results of a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics revealed that boys were more likely to exceed recommended screen time limits, as were those who did not take part in any physical activity.
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention carried out the survey on more than 5,000 parents and 7,000 children, asking about how much time was spent in front of a TV or computer, the amount of time spent on physical activity and if children agreed with the rules.
A "consistent benefit" was shown to exist between a child's participation in sport and outdoor play activities and screen time.
Susan A Carlson, an epidemiologist at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, said: "Parents need to limit the amount of their children's screen time and they should be encouraging their kids to participate in physical activity."
She added when parents and children agree on the limits kids are less likely to spend too much time in front of the TV.
In the UK it is recommended that children spend 60 minutes each day taking part in physical activity.
The results of a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics revealed that boys were more likely to exceed recommended screen time limits, as were those who did not take part in any physical activity.
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention carried out the survey on more than 5,000 parents and 7,000 children, asking about how much time was spent in front of a TV or computer, the amount of time spent on physical activity and if children agreed with the rules.
A "consistent benefit" was shown to exist between a child's participation in sport and outdoor play activities and screen time.
Susan A Carlson, an epidemiologist at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, said: "Parents need to limit the amount of their children's screen time and they should be encouraging their kids to participate in physical activity."
She added when parents and children agree on the limits kids are less likely to spend too much time in front of the TV.
In the UK it is recommended that children spend 60 minutes each day taking part in physical activity.
