ROCHESTER, N.Y., Feb 5, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Urban children with asthma
engage in an average of an hour more of screen time daily than recommended, U.S.
researchers said.
Lead author Kelly M. Conn of Golisano Children's Hospital at the University of
Rochester Medical Center in New York said that as a part of a larger study on
how to more effectively treat asthma, Conn and colleagues surveyed parents of
urban children with asthma in Rochester, N.Y., to better understand their screen
time viewing habits. Screen time includes TV watching and video tapes, playing
video and computer games and using the Internet.
The study, published in journal Academic Pediatrics, found that 74 percent of
the 226 children whose parents were surveyed exceeded more than two hours of
screen time per day. On average, these children with asthma watched 3.4 hours
daily, the study said. In the study, children included were between age 3 and
10.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a maximum of two hours of screen
time per day for children.
"Even though these findings are preliminary, a message for parents would be to
remain aware of the amount of time your child is spending in front of screens
and try to encourage your child to participate in a range of activities," Conn
said in a statement.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International