Obese Children Who Develop Hypertension May Be Watching Far Too Much Television

A new study at University of California, San Diego, suggests that obese kids who develop hypertension may be watching far too much television. The researchers concluded that both the amount of time spent watching TV each day  and the severity of obesity were significant independent predictors of hypertension

The study finding follows the evaluation of amount of time the children spent watching TV, along with their body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure and points the need for significant physician and family involvement to decrease TV time among obese children.

According to this study, children watching TV two to four hours a day  were 2.5 times more likely to develop hypertension than children who spent two or less hours of TV a day, while children who spent four or more hours watching TV a day were 3.3 times more likely to have this heart condition..

The findings are published in the December issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.