The big screen has BIG effects

The television’s glow and murmur was one of the most comforting constants of my childhood evenings. No matter what the day had held, exciting outings or heated arguments, its events culminated when my father tucked the remote under his chin. I could sleep soundly knowing that I wasn’t alone in the house; my parents and the cast of Cheers were there to keep me safe. I might not have slept so soundly had I known the truth. The same bedroom televisions that lulled my family to dreamland also amplify owners’ total amount of TV watching, thereby decreasing their chances of a good night’s sleep and increasing the risks of obesity.

Researchers at the University of Vermont conducted a study on the relationship between bedroom television viewing time and four other factors: Body Mass Index, sleep time, non-bedroom television viewing time, and total television viewing time. Participants underwent a three-week period of observation as they watched tv as normal. Monitors recorded the minutes per day viewed on each television, and sleep logs tallied the participants’ sleep time (Jones et. al). Total television viewing time was found to be significantly greater (12.2 hours more per week) in bedroom TV set owners than those whose televisions could not be seen from the bedroom. Not only did the presence of bedroom television viewing time contribute to the total television viewing time, but bedroom set owners also had greater intervals of non-bedroom television viewing time (Jones et. al).

In this particular study, no significant relationship was found between bedtime television viewing time and sleep duration or BMI. However, the researchers cite other studies, particularly in adolescents, that have found evidence for the two correlations. And while having a television in the bedroom may not directly affect BMI and sleep duration, it undeniably has indirect effects on both. The presence of bedroom TVs, and the increased television viewing time that comes with that presence, leaves less time for owners to be active or sleeping (Delmas et. al). Sedentary behavior is one of the largest contributors to the obesity epidemic sweeping our nation (Martinez-Gonzalez et. al), and TV watching is a prevalent sedentary behavior (Jones et. al). Research proves the direct, positive correlation between inactivity and pervasiveness of obesity (Martinez-Gonzalez et. al). When viewers trade physical activity and sleep for television time, they choose habits that lead to this sedentary lifestyle. Their choices elevate their risk of obesity, or having a BMI exceeding 30 kg/sq m.

So although having a television in the bedroom doesn’t necessarily cause obesity, a well-traveled path exists between the two. When research participants have bedroom TV sets, their television viewing time increases. The more time a person spends watching television, the more likely they are to lead a sedentary lifestyle; and a sedentary lifestyle contributes to obesity. We must know the effects of the box of bedtime comfort and take caution with our viewing time. Sticking a TV in the room might seem like an easy way to lull your family to sleep, but it does far more harm than good. Next time a kid needs their bedroom checked for monsters, maybe we should check the television stand instead of the closet.

Image:

Alviseni Lopez, 2009

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alvi2047/3688993279/#

Sources:

Delmas, Platat, Schweitzer, Wagner, Oujaa, and Simon. “Association Between Television in Bedroom and Adiposity Throughout Adolescence”. Nature Magazine. 2007. http://www.nature.com/oby/journal/v15/n10/abs/oby2007296a.html

Jones, Otten, Johnson, and Harvey-Berino. “Removing the Bedroom Television Set: A Possible Method for Decreasing Television Viewing Time in Overweight and Obese Adults”. University of Vermont. 2010. http://bmo.sagepub.com/content/34/4/290.full.pdf+html

Martinez-Gonzalez, Martinez, Hu, Gibney, and Kearney. “Physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle and obesity in the European Union”. Nature Magazine. 1999. http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v23/n11/pdf/0801049a.pdf