Screen Time, Blood Pressure - CHANGE

The Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine recently released study findings that too much screen time may raise the blood pressure of young children. The researchers found that screen time included more sedentary behaviors such as watching television, using a computer, and playing video games. In what seems to be the first time a link has been made between sedentary behavior and elevated blood pressure in children aged 3 through 8. This may be true even in cases where the child is not obese or overweight.

To perform the study the children were adorned with accelerometers. The meters are a tool utilized to measure the amount of movement. The researchers used them to determine how much time the children spent on sedentary or little movement activities. In the study the children spent an average of five hours a day on sedentary activities, with screen time averaging 1.5 hours. That is well over The American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation limiting screen time to two hours per day.

The researchers found that children who had the least amount of screen time had lower blood pressure levels than those children who had more screen time.

There is a negative trend occurring in the United States. There are more and more children developing elevated blood pressure.

Make an adjustment! Healthy Attitudz recommends a challenge. Limit screen time to less than 1 hour a day and add at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Order your activity monitoring wrist bands for the whole family and make your challenge a fun, family affair!