Expert: Prescribe TV dosage for children

Dr Aric Sigman who reviewed 35 academic studies, said the findings implicated television in "the greatest unacknowledged health scandal of our time".

LONDON, England, April 23, 2007 - Television should be treated as a public health issue and the dosage for children should be regulated, according to a researcher.

"Screen media must now be considered a major public health issue and reducing television viewing must become the new priority for child health," said psychologist Dr Aric Sigman, who listed 15 ways that a child's health can be damaged.

Sigman who reviewed 35 academic studies, said the findings implicated television in "the greatest unacknowledged health scandal of our time" and is recommending that government should get involved by issuing guidelines to mothers. He said that regulating the number of viewing hours for children was not radical.

Though the study and advice are targetted at Britain, it has implications for children in the Caribbean and elsewhere.

He has recommend the following guidelines:

• Children under three: No screen exposure;
• Ages three to seven: 30 minutes to one hour per day;
• Ages seven to 12: One hour per day;
• Ages 12 to 15: One and-a-half hours a day;
• Ages 16 and over: Two hours.

He has also cited the following 15 harmful effects of TV on children:

1. Obesity. A result of little exercise;
2. Disrupted hormones. Light from televisions suppresses production of the key hormone melatonin;
3. Lowered immune system. Reduced melatonin may increase the chance of mutations in cell DNA, which causes cancer;
4. Premature puberty. Also linked to low levels of melatonin;
5. Sleep disorders. Over-stimulating the senses causes sleeplessness;
6. Autism. Linked to a lack of social interaction;
7. Increased body fat. Altered levels of the hormones leptin and ghrelin produce fat and boost appetite;
8. Poor concentration. Development of brain cells governing attention span is impaired;
9. Difficulty reading. A result of poor intellectual stimulation while young;
10. Type 2 diabetes - From eating high-calorie food while watching TV;
11. Changes to skin immune cells. Waves emitted by sets are linked to changes in skin 'mast' cells;
12. Increased cholesterol. A result of an inactive childhood;
13. Slower metabolism. Watching TV may slow the metabolism more than simply doing nothing;
14. Shortsightedness. Staring at a screen can lead to eye damage; and
15. Alzheimer's Disease. Heavy viewing linked to increased risk.

Broadcasters in Britain have said that television was an easy scapegoat for society's problems while the Save Kids' TV campaign, disagreed with some of the recommendations such as banning television for children under three. It has suggested, instead, that there should be a focus on improving the quality of programmes.

Sigman is also author of the book "Remotely Controlled: How television is damaging our lives".