TV and computer screen time could cause high blood pressure in young children according to a new study involving 111 children.
Children between the ages of 3 – 9 years of age who watched TV for more than 30 minutes a day were observed to have a blood pressure 6-7 points above normal.
The elevated blood pressure was observed independent of body composition according to the report on the study published in the August issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
The link between TV watching and elevated blood pressure could be indirect since television watching was also associated with poor eating habits and lack of sleep both of which can lead to a raised blood pressure levels.
Interestingly, a sedentary lifestyle by itself does not pose any risk. The problem arises when it is associated with TV viewing.
Although elevated blood pressure is associated with genetic factors, healthy physical, dietary and sleep habits seem to be relevant contributors to blood pressure levels in children. However, there have not been any clear links between sedentary behavior and elevated blood pressure in children younger than age 9.
David Martinez-Gomez, B.Sc., of Iowa State University, Ames, and the Spanish National Research Council, Madrid, Spain, and colleagues examined associations between sedentary behavior and elevated blood pressure in 111 young children (57 boys and 54 girls ages 3 to 8). Sedentary behavior was determined by an accelerometer generally worn over the right hip and by parental reports stating the average time the children spent watching TV, playing video games, painting, sitting or taking part in other activities with low levels of physical activity each day for seven days. Time watching TV was defined as time spent watching TV, videotapes or DVDs. Computer use was defined as the time spent using a home computer or video game. Researchers defined screen time as the total amount of time each child spent using a TV, video, computer or video game. The children’s height, weight, fat mass and systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure were also measured.
The children’s average sedentary time and screen time per day were five hours and 1.5 hours, respectively. Boys spent more time using computers than girls, but there were no significant differences in time spent on other sedentary behaviors. [Source]
