Screen Time's Toll On Our Kids' Health Children who watch more
than five hours of TV per day are more than four times as likely
to be overweight, compared to children who watch less than two
hours per day. According to the National Institutes of Health
and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overweight
children have an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood
pressure, heart disease, joint problems, depression, menstrual
irregularities, and other health problems. Kids who watch more
TV are also more likely to eat the foods they see advertised on
commercials, many of which are for junk foods. Commercial
television programs aimed at children include an average of more
than one food advertisement every five minutes. One study
estimates that the average American child watches 10,000 food
commercials per year. In addition, free Internet game sites are
a new vehicle for advertising to children, especially for food
items. Equally troubling, the American Academy of Pediatrics,
the American Medical A