An Hour of Less TV Decreases Risk of Diabetes

Thu, 21 Apr 2011
Children who spend too much time watching television increase the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes in later life, according to a new Australian study.

A new Australian study has discovered that 6 to 7 year olds who spent most their spare time watching TV had narrower arteries in the back of their eyes.

This is a classic indicator for the possibility of developing diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure when they become older.

It is vital that parents encourage their children to get off the sofas and engage in some exercise . The study examined 1,500 six and seven-year-olds in 34 primary schools in Sydney.

The average child spent 2 hours daily watching TV and 36 minutes daily in organised physical activity .

Children with the highest levels of physical activity of over an hour or more had considerably wider retinal arteries on average than those who spent less than 30 minutes a day being physically active.

Less physical activity also lead to weight gain and poor dietary habits.

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