Open AccessChildren, Adolescents, Obesity, and the Media
Author(s) -
Victor C. Strasburger,
Deborah Ann Mulligan,
Tanya Remer Altmann,
Ari Brown,
Dimitri Christakis,
Kathleen Clarke-Pearson,
Holly L. Falik,
David L. Hill,
Marjorie J. Hogan,
Alanna Estin Levine,
Kathleen G. Nelson,
Gwenn Schurgin O’Keeffe,
Gilbert L. Fuld,
Benard P. Dreyer,
Regina M. Milteer,
Donald L. Shifrin,
Amy Jordan,
Michael Brody,
Brian L. Wilcox,
Gina Ley Steiner,
Veronica Laude Noland
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pediatrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.611
H-Index - 345
eISSN - 1098-4275
pISSN - 0031-4005
DOI - 10.1542/peds.2011-1066
Subject(s) - snacking , medicine , bedroom , obesity , advertising , screen time , childhood obesity , environmental health , internet privacy , overweight , endocrinology , civil engineering , computer science , engineering , business
Obesity has become a worldwide public health problem. Considerable research has shown that the media contribute to the development of child and adolescent obesity, although the exact mechanism remains unclear. Screen time may displace more active pursuits, advertising of junk food and fast food increases children's requests for those particular foods and products, snacking increases while watching TV or movies, and late-night screen time may interfere with getting adequate amounts of sleep, which is a known risk factor for obesity. Sufficient evidence exists to warrant a ban on junk-food or fast-food advertising in children's TV programming. Pediatricians need to ask 2 questions about media use at every well-child or well-adolescent visit: (1) How much screen time is being spent per day? and (2) Is there a TV set or Internet connection in the child's bedroom?
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