Study Links Screen Time and High Blood Pressure

Image Credit: Getty Images, Maureen Light Photography/Flickr

The growing problem of childhood obesity just got more complicated as a new study from the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine links screen time with high blood pressure.  This research goes beyond previous studies and examines the specific behavior of being in front of a television or computer rather than simply sedentary activity. 

According to the study, regardless of body size, the act of sitting and watching a screen raises a child’s blood pressure.  Obesity can be linked easily to high blood pressure and sedentary lifestyles lead to obesity, but this study presents an interesting argument that this isolated behavior can also cause high blood pressure. An article from WebMD discusses the new findings,

The researchers found that children who spent the least amount of time watching television, using the computer, and playing video games had much lower blood pressure levels than those who spent the most time in front of a screen. Other forms of sedentary activity, however, were not significantly related to elevated blood pressure.

“It appears other factors, which occur during excessive screen time, should also be considered in the context of sedentary behavior and elevated blood pressure development in children,” [Joe Eisenmann, PhD, a professor at Michigan State University’s Department of Kinesiology] says. “TV viewing often comes with unhealthy snacking behavior, and also can lead to stress responses that disrupt sleep.”

Web MD: “Screen Time Boosts Kids’ Blood Pressure”

[via Eco Child's Play]