Topic > The health impact of spending too much time in front of the screen

Screen viewing is used for entertainment purposes and also for learning processes. It's an activity that almost everyone loves to participate in, especially children. The world we live in has become virtual in the recent past and almost every home uses one or more types of screen. Most children have access to screens ranging from television screens, computers, tablets, smartphones and video games and the surprising truth is that even the littlest ones spend time staring at the screen for relaxation and entertainment purposes. Recent studies have shown that children are spending more time than ever in front of the screen (Christakis et al., 2013). For this reason, many experts suggest that screen time should be monitored and regulated by parents and guardians. The underlying reasons are the risk of developing obesity, behavioral problems, irregular sleep patterns and reduced school performance. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Increased screen time for children increases the risk of becoming overweight and obese. This is attributed to a combination of poor eating habits, reduced physical activity and exposure to television advertising (Cairns, Angus and Hastings, 2009; Liang, Kuhle and Veugelers, 2457-2463). Children are likely to eat unhealthy foods such as snacks and soft drinks and avoid eating healthy fruits and vegetables because watching television causes distraction and decreases awareness of the types of food consumed. Secondly, watching too much TV is a passive activity that prevents you from burning excess calories and therefore from gaining weight. Exposure to television advertising influences children's food preferences. The foods advertised are usually processed foods that are unhealthy. When a child sees an advertisement for food that is pleasing to the eye, he or she will reach for the food to find out what it tastes like and eventually it will become a habit. When children fail to balance physical activity and limited screen time, they are three to four times more likely to become overweight than children who are physically active (Laurson et al., 2008). Furthermore, a research article by Strasburg (2011) showed that for every additional hour five-year-olds spend watching television, the risk of obesity in adulthood increases by 7%. An excessive intake of 50 kcal per day results in a weight gain of five kilos per year (Strasbourg, 2011). The second reason screen time needs to be regulated for children is that it leads to irregular sleep patterns. This occurs especially when parents or a child's responsible guardian fail to establish rules for sleep time and more specifically for children with television in the bedroom and/or video games (Garrison et al., 2011). Without limitations, it is very likely that the baby will sleep beyond the required time and over time it will become a habit and routine. This will ultimately impact your sleep pattern and problems falling asleep and sleep loss leading to fatigue and lack of concentration. According to a research article by Garrison et al. (2011), on average children consume 72.9 minutes of media screen time each day, of which 14.1 minutes are after 7pm. In the study, eighteen parents reported at least one sleep problem in children who had a television in the bedroom, and the model used showed that each additional hour of television viewing in the evening was associated with a sleep problem. The limitation of elapsed timein front of the screen is essential to prevent the development of behavioral problems in children. Elementary school children who spend more than two hours a day watching video games or television are more likely to develop attention, emotional abuse and social health problems. A Mayo Clinic staff article (2015) indicated that exposure to video games is linked to attention problems in children and excessive video game viewing. Television at age four is linked to bullying at age six years. However, another article by Parkes, Alison, et al., (2013) revealed that watching television for more than three hours at the age of five leads to an increase in conduct problems at the age of seven, but not playing and watching video or electronic games. . Violence against children is likely to develop due to some content that children watch, television programs and video games. Programs that are insensitive to children and unregulated display violent activities aimed primarily at adults. Since children, especially at the preschool level, are developing and tend to emulate and imitate what they see in their surroundings, screen limitation is necessary. The aggression and prosocial behaviors shown on screens may be adopted and the child may think that violence is a lifestyle and a normal way to resolve disputes (Christakis et al., 2013). For children to improve their academic performance, time spent in front of the screen is necessary. be limited. An increase in time spent in front of the screen reduces the time spent studying and concentrating in class. Children with a television in the bedroom are more likely to perform worse on tests than those who do not have a television in the bedroom. This means that they only focus on TV programs without sparing time for studying. With reduced physical activity caused by increased screen use, children's academic performance is likely to suffer more. Physical activity has been linked to improved academic achievement because it keeps a child focused and mentally active. Aguilar, Macarena M., et al. (2015) in their research article found that academic performance is associated with a higher level of cardiorespiratory fitness, but increased screen time impairs academic performance. For there to be screen limitations, effective parents and guardians should develop family rules that regulate screen time. The rules should specify times when watching television or playing video games and going to bed. A parent needs to make sure to be strict and explain the reasons for regulating screen time. Paying attention to how your child behaves during and after screen viewing helps you know if his or her behavior is changing. This requires monitoring television programs and video game content. A television program suitable for an eight-year-old is not suitable for a three-year-old. Parents should use their judgment to know what types of programs are appropriate for each age group. Parents can also consult media reviews, but they should be cautious because some television programs rate their programs, for example, PG-13 (parental guide for 13-year-olds) but that does not mean that all content is appropriate, or 13-year-olds are ready to see the content (greatschools.org). Additionally, parents can offer guidance to children by using technology to control media. Screen devices such as DVD programs and video cassettes are..