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

Children watching TV
(Image credit: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

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.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

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.

Explore More

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.