[THS] Toddlers and TV: Early exposure has negative and long-term impact

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Toddlers and TV: Early exposure has negative and long-term impact

May 3rd, 2010 in Medicine & Health / Health

Want kids who are smarter and thinner? Keep them away from the television set as
toddlers. A shocking study from child experts at the Université de Montréal, the
Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center and the University of Michigan,
published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, has found that
television exposure at age two forecasts negative consequences for kids, ranging
from poor school adjustment to unhealthy habits.

"We found every additional hour of TV exposure among toddlers corresponded to a
future decrease in classroom engagement and success at math, increased
victimization by classmates, have a more sedentary lifestyle, higher consumption of
junk food and, ultimately, higher body mass index," says lead author Dr. Linda S.
Pagani, a psychosocial professor at the Université de Montréal and researcher at the
Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center.

The goal of the study was to determine the impact of TV exposure at age 2 on future
academic success, lifestyle choices and general well being among children. "Between
the ages of two and four, even incremental exposure to television delayed
development," says Dr. Pagani.

A total of 1,314 kids took part in the investigation, which was part of the Quebec
Longitudinal Study of Child Development Main Exposure. Parents were asked to
report how much TV their kids watched at 29 months and at 53 months in age.
Teachers were asked to evaluate academic, psychosocial and health habits, while
body mass index (BMI) was measured at 10 years old.

"Early childhood is a critical period for brain development and formation of
behaviour," warns Dr. Pagani. "High levels of TV consumption during this period can
lead to future unhealthy habits. Despite clear recommendations from the American
Academy of Pediatrics suggesting less than two hours of TV per day - beyond the age
of two - parents show poor factual knowledge and awareness of such existing
guidelines."

According to the investigation, watchting too much TV as toddlers later forecasted:
a seven percent decrease in classroom engagement;
a six percent decrease in math achievement (with no harmful effects on later
reading);
a 10 percent increase in victimization by classmates (peer rejection, being teased,
assaulted or insulted by other students);
a 13 percent decrease in weekend physical activity;
a nine percent decrease in general physical activity;
a nine percent higher consumption of soft drinks;
a 10 percent peak in snacks intake;
a five percent increase in BMI.

"Although we expected the impact of early TV viewing to disappear after seven and a
half years of childhood, the fact that negative outcomes remained is quite daunting,"
says Dr. Pagani. "Our findings make a compelling public health argument against
excessive TV viewing in early childhood and for parents to heed guidelines on TV
exposure from the American Academy of Pediatrics."

Since TV exposure encourages a sedentary lifestyle, Dr. Pagani says, television
viewing must be curbed for toddlers to avoid the maintenance of passive mental and
physical habits in later childhood: "Common sense would have it that TV exposure
replaces time that could be spent engaging in other developmentally enriching
activities and tasks which foster cognitive, behavioral, and motor development."

"What's special about this study is how it confirms suspicions that have been out
there and shown by smaller projects on one outcome or another. This study takes a
comprehensive approach and considers many parental, pediatric and societal factors
simultaneously," she adds.

More information: Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine:
http://archpedi.ama-assn.org

Provided by University of Montreal

"Toddlers and TV: Early exposure has negative and long-term impact." May 3rd,
2010. www.physorg.com/news192120656.html