
Childhood obesity in America has become a growing problem over the years. In 1980 only 7% of kids between the ages of six and eleven were considered obese. This number rose to 18% in 2012. The percentage of kids between the ages of twelve and nineteen who were obese increased over the same period, from 5% to 21% (CDC 2015).  There has also been a significant increase in technology over the years. The number of internet users has gone from 361 million in 2000, to 1,967 million in 2010 (Internet World Stats 2015). In 2015 a study was done looking at the relationship between the amount of time kids spend in front of a screen, and obesity. This took 5,844 kids from around the world and looked at the time they were sedentary, and their screen time. This study found that boys reported having higher screen times, were less likely to meet screen time guidelines, and has higher BMI's than girls. The common correlates between sedentary time and screen time were poor weight status (overweight), and not meeting the physical activity guidelines (LeBlanc 2015). This study shows that kids who spent more time on screens in turn has higher BMI's. This paper will be addressing the question, What is the Relationship between Screen Time and Childhood obesity. It will be looking at obesity in America, technology growth, the problems associated with obesity, and how technology related to this problem. 

Obesity in America has been steadily growing over the years. America is home to the largest number of overweight and obese people in the world. We are ranked the number one fattest country, with Chine and India at second and third (Everyday Health 2015). According to Everyday Health, 70.9 percent of men and 61.9 percent of women in America are overweight or obese. Compare this to 38 percent of men and 36.9 percent on women worldwide. Those percentages do not stop at adults. The number of overweight boys and girls in America is almost double what it is worldwide. The CDC released a report stating that overweight or obese preschoolers are five times more likely to be overweight or obese as they become adults. 

Technology is also rapidly growing in America. It is not uncommon to see toddlers using Ipads or tablets with ease. A survey done in the UK revealed that 47 percent of parents think its important for their child to be familiar with technology before they begin school (The Telegraph 2013). This would mean that parents want their kids to be familiar with TV's and computers around the age of five. Today TV viewing for kids is at an eight-year high, and kids ages 2-5 are spending around 32 hours a day in front of a TV (University of Michigan 2010). The American Academy of Pediatrics states that "Kids who watch five or more hours of TV each day have a four and a half times greater risk of being over weight when they are older. This means that most kids between the ages of two and five are at risk of being overweight because of their TV watching habits. Harvard has done several trials which showed that when kids reduce the amount of time they are sitting in front of a screen, their body mass index also declined (Harvard School of Public Health 2015). Many of the trials use schools to get the study done. Middle school classrooms used their lessons to encourage more physical activity, and stray away from TV and screen time. The kids who were encouraged to do more physical activity had lower rates of obesity in girls (Harvard School of Public Health 2015). 

There have been many studies done over the years looking at sedentary time and physical activity among kids. The ages of the kids involved in these studies range from five to fifteen years old. All od them have shown a correlation between not meeting the recommended amount of physical activity, and obesity. When kids are spending too much time in front of a screen they are not meeting these recommendations. They are instead spending sedentary time, when they could be physically active. Dr. Elizabeth A. Vandewater from the University of Texas, did a study which revealed that "heavier children spent more time in sedentary activities than thinner ones, but they did not spend any more or less time in moderately or extremely active activities (UT News). Her study took data from parents as well as the children involved. The families provided data on health, cognitive, academic, and behavioral development. Kelly conducted a survey which with a sample of kids ages seven to twelve. Her study revealed that kids who met the physical activity and screen time recommendations were the least likely to be obese. 10 percent of the boys and 20 percent of the girls who met both recommendations were overweight, while 35 to 40 percent of the kids who did not meet either of the recommendations were overweight (The Journal of Pediatrics 2008). 

It is also possible that the content being shown on TV shows is what is causing obesity. Harvard has also done extensive research evaluating ads that are being shown on TV. Kids constantly see food-related commercials while they are in front of TV screens. These ads are almost always for high-calorie, low nutrient foods and drinks. One experiment was conducted which showed that kids who watched TV shows with food commercials ate 45 percent more snack foods while watching than kids who were watching a show with non-food commercials (Harvard School of Public Health 2015). While it may be subconscious, if kids are watching someone else eating food, or simply see food while watching TV, they will then want to consume more food than normal. Cutting down on these types of commercials would help to reduce the amount of greasy and unhealthy food kids are consuming today. 

Opposition to the idea that screen time is related to obesity has come up. Emily Oster, an American economist believes that kids who spend more time watching TV tend to be poor. These kids tend to be from minority groups and are more likely to have parents with led education.  She says that these kids come from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, so do not have access to nutritious foods they need to be healthy. 

Overall obesity is a huge problem in our country today. Stating with kids we can try to reduce the number of people who carry this problem into adulthood. Reducing the amount of time spent in from of a TV can greatly reduce the chance of obesity. While this is obviously not the only factor involved, it is one that has an easy fix. Childhood is when kids are forming habits which will be with them for the rest of their lives. Spending less time watching TV and playing video games will give kids more time to be outside and lead active lives. If parents have their kids involved in a sports team or even play outside for a few hours, it could greatly reduce the amount of obesity in America. 

