Watching just one hour of TV daily could increase childhood obesity risk

How much TV would it take to affect your child's health? Two hours a day, maybe three?

Unfortunately, a new study suggests the answer is much less than that. Just one hour of TV per day could be enough to increase the risk of children becoming overweight or obese, according to research from the University of Virginia.

Researchers looked at data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey, which studied 11,113 kindergarten-age children in 2011 and 2012. The researchers found that children who watched one to two hours of TV a day weighed more than those who watched less than one hour of TV daily. Children who watched at least one hour of TV each day were 39 percent more likely to become overweight and 86 percent more likely to become obese, the study found.

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The researchers also discovered that not all screens had equal effects, as increased computer use wasn't linked to a greater risk for becoming overweight or obese. Some experts believe TV's commercials could account for the difference — advertisements for unhealthy foods or sugary drinks could also lead to weight gain.