London - Children from middle-class backgrounds are just as likely to be spending too long in front of TV and other screens as those from poorer homes, a study warns.
Contrary to the commonly held belief that the problem is confined to working-class homes which can afford fewer alternatives, youngsters from wealthier backgrounds are spending unhealthy amounts of time in front of their screens, a study at the University of Essex revealed.
The combination of watching TV, playing console games and surfing the internet is turning Britain’s youngsters into a generation of couch potatoes, it found.
More than one in three 10- to 15-year-olds were exposed to “high levels of screen time”, research leader Dr Gavin Sandercock said Ð and this figure was similar across the social scale.
“High level” was defined as more than two hours a day, the official recommended limit in countries including the US, Canada and Australia. The study, in the Journal of Public Health Access is calling for this to be set as a limit in Britain.
The children were less likely to spend time on physical activity either at school or home Ð posing a risk to their “physical, mental and social health”.
Fellow researcher Ayodele Ogunleye added: “A sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor for chronic disease.” - Daily Mail