Children who watch lots of TV may have poor bone health later in life
- Date:
- July 7, 2016
- Source:
- Wiley
- Summary:
- Consistently watching high levels of television during childhood and adolescence were linked with lower peak bone mass at age 20 years in a recent study. Hours of television watching per week were recorded by parental or self-report at 5, 8, 10, 14, 17 and 20 years of age in 1181 participants. Those who consistently watched ?14 hours/week of television had lower bone mineral content than those who watched less television, even after adjusting for height, body mass, physical activity, calcium intake, vitamin D levels, alcohol, and smoking (all at age 20).
- Share:
Consistently watching high levels of television during childhood and adolescence were linked with lower peak bone mass at age 20 years in a recent study.
In the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research study, hours of television watching per week were recorded by parental or self-report at 5, 8, 10, 14, 17 and 20 years of age in 1181 participants.
Those who consistently watched ≥14 hours/week of television had lower bone mineral content than those who watched less television, even after adjusting for height, body mass, physical activity, calcium intake, vitamin D levels, alcohol, and smoking (all at age 20).
"Since attainment of optimal peak bone mass is protective against osteoporosis later in life, reducing sedentary time in children may have long-term skeletal benefits," the authors wrote.
Journal Reference:
- Joanne A McVeigh, Kun Zhu, Jenny Mountain, Craig E Pennell, Stephen J Lye, John P Walsh, Leon M Straker. Longitudinal Trajectories of Television Watching Across Childhood and Adolescence Predict Bone Mass at Age 20 Years in the Raine Study. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 2016; DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.2890
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