According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Director of Surgery, Phuong Dong General Hospital, watching too much TV and being exposed to computers and mobile phones too early is one of the reasons contributing to increasing obesity in children. These habits not only lead to a sedentary lifestyle but also negatively affect children's eating habits and sleep. Spending too much time in front of the screen can reduce physical activity time, causing energy imbalance and increasing the ability to consume unhealthy foods.
Below is an analysis of the link between exposure to electronic devices and obesity in children, along with guidance on managing this issue.
The link between watching TV, using computers, phones and obesity in children
Reduce physical activity: Watching TV, using computers and phones makes children spend more time sitting still. Reducing physical activity consumes less energy, thereby easily leading to excess calories and fat accumulation in the body.
Consuming unhealthy foods: Children are often affected by unhealthy food advertisements on television and the internet. Fast food, soft drinks and snack advertisements can make children crave food, consume a lot of high-calorie, sugary and fatty foods, thereby contributing to increasing the risk of obesity.
Eating habits while watching TV: Eating while watching TV makes children lose focus on feeling full, easily consume more food than usual. Many children also have uncontrolled snacking habits when sitting in front of the screen, leading to weight gain.
Affecting sleep: Exposure to computer screens, phones and TVs for too long, especially before bedtime, can affect sleep quality. Lack of sleep disrupts hormone production, increases appetite and reduces satiety, thereby increasing the risk of obesity.
Studies on the link between electronic devices and obesity
Research from Harvard University shows that children who watch TV or use computers and phones for more than 2 hours a day are at higher risk of being overweight or obese than children who limit their time using electronic devices.
Another study from the American Institute of Nutrition in 2015 also showed that the rate of obesity in children increased significantly when children spent more than 3 hours a day on activities related to screens.
In addition, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that excessive exposure to electronic devices not only increases the risk of obesity but can also negatively affect children's cardiovascular health.
