Television viewing and childhood obesity

It has been hypothesized that television viewing causes obesity by way of one or more of three mechanisms: displacement of physical activity, increased caloric consumption while watching or due to the effects of advertising, and reduced resting metabolism. The results of several recent experimental studies support the suggestion that reducing television viewing may help reduce the risk of obesity or help promote weight loss in obese children. One school-based experimental trial was specifically designed to directly test the casual relationship between television viewing behaviors and body fatness. The results of this randomized controlled trial provide evidence that television viewing is a cause of increased body fatness and that reducing television viewing is a promising strategy for preventing childhood obesity.