Young American people spend an average of 22 hours per week watching television. If this habit continues, today’s children will have spent 8 ½ years of their lives in front of the TV screen by the time they are 70-years-old! There is a strong link between obesity in children and the amount of time spent in front of television.

Also of great concern is the questionable content of what is being viewed. The areas of greatest controversy are exposure to violence, sexuality, and commercialism. Multiple studies have demonstrated association between television violence and aggressive behavior in children, although mediated viewing, that is television watched and discussed with parents, will lessen the likelihood that the child will imitate what he or she sees on the screen. There is also a probable link between very high rates of teenage pregnancy and sexual activity when television serves as the major, and sometimes the only, source of sex education.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting television-viewing time to a maximum of 1-2 hours per day and advocates parental control over what their children are watching. The Academy strongly cautions against using television as a "baby sitter." The same rules apply to time spent in front of the computer.

For additional healthy kids tips, log onto baymed.org, scroll over "Health Checks & You" and join our "E-List." For more information about childhood diseases or development, contact Inez Balinska, MD or Darek Balinski, MD, Bay Regional Pediatrics, Medical Mall, 1456 W. Center Road, Essexville. (989) 895-4840.