Youngsters with TVs in their rooms eat more, sleep less

University of Haifa research shows that putting a TV in teenagers' rooms is bad for their health.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
kid watching tv 88 (photo credit: )
kid watching tv 88
(photo credit: )
Putting a TV in teenagers' rooms is bad for their health, according to University of Haifa research, which has confirmed foreign studies. A study of 444 middle-school pupils by Prof. Yael Letzer, Dr. Tamar Shohat and Prof. Orna Chishinsky of the Jezreel Valley College found that teens with their own TVs slept less and ate more than those without. The average bedtime of those studied was 23:04 p.m., and the average time slept was seven hours and 41 minutes. On weekends, the average bedtime was 1:45 a.m., with the average time slept increasing to nine hours and 45 minutes. Those with personal TVs went to sleep half an hour later but woke up at the same time. Middle-school pupils watch an average of two hours and 40 minutes of TV and use their computer for three hours and 45 minutes weekly. On weekends, they watch half an hour more TV than during the rest of the week and use their computers for four hours. Pupils with TVs in their bedrooms watch an hour more than those whose TV is in another room. A fifth of pupils said they ate in front of the TV set on a regular basis, while 70 percent said they did this occasionally. Only 10% never ate in front of the TV. Computers were considered to be a less attractive eating place, with half never eating in front of the PC. The more teenagers are exposed to the media, the more they eat in front of the TV or computer screen, the study indicated. Previous studies have shown that eating in front of the TV increases calorie intake and the risk of obesity in children and adults.