Little exercise and heavy use of electronic media constitute a significant health risk for children

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-05/uoef-lea052014.php

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 20-May-2014
Contact: Timo Lakka
University of Eastern Finland
Little exercise and heavy use of electronic media constitute a significant health risk for children

The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children Study, PANIC, carried out by the Institute of Biomedicine at the University of Eastern Finland shows that low levels of physical activity combined with heavy use of electronic media and sedentary behaviour are linked to an increased risk for type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases already in 6–8 year-old children. The study was published in International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, an esteemed journal in the field of exercise and nutrition.

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Heavy use of electronic media, and especially watching too much TV and videos, increased the levels of risk factors not only in sedentary children, but also in children who are physically active. Moreover, irregular eating frequency and an unhealthy diet were linked to increased risk factors for type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases. These nutrition-related factors partially explain the link between heavy use of electronic media and the risk factors.

The PANIC Study has earlier shown that the cumulation of risk factors for type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases in people who are overweight begins already in childhood. This is a major concern because the cumulation of risk factors in childhood significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, vascular diseases and premature death in adulthood. According to this recently published study, regular exercise and avoiding excessive use of electronic media constitute efficient means of preventing type 2 diabetes and vascular diseases.

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