Can the 'electronic revolution' affect children's health?

Authorel Ackad, Tarek
PositionHealthWatch

CHILDHOOD OBESITY HAS EMERGED as a public health concern, particularly in Western societies. It is suggested that excessive screen-viewing--through television, computer, videos, electronic games, etc.-is a major factor contributing to the increased risk of obesity in children. These electronic devices can very well have a negative impact on their health.

In the Western world at least, from the day they start to walk until they enter college and even beyond, children are bombarded with electronic devices and media-watching, which can lead to their adoption of a new sedentary lifestyle, devoid of exercise necessary to offset the very rich caloric diets prevalent in today's societies. As diets become "westernized", this phenomenon is creeping into developing countries as well. Children are, therefore, likely to be overweight in their adult life.

Boys and girls begin watching television at a very early age, more so perhaps in developing countries than in affluent societies. For example, at an airport in the United States, I saw children gathered around an electric receptacle, munching on junk food while charging their iPods and other electronic devices, and would not allow a businessman access to it. In Cairo, Egypt, one cannot escape seeing satellite dishes on top of buildings, mushrooming not only on rooftops but also protruding out of apartment balconies. Children at home are either watching television, playing video games and play-stations, or talking on cellular phones and sending text messages. I find few children playing in the park, walking on the beach or participating in active sports. I call this the rise of electronic advancement and the fall of outdoor exercise--a new world order of children.

What does this mean to their health? A healthy human body must be exposed to a reasonable amount of exercise, particularly during a child's development. The lack of exercise in one's daily life, coupled with a rich caloric dietary intake, can result in a myriad of diseases that are not immediately evident. But the blueprint would certainly be drawn for future health disasters, especially for children whose parents are already afflicted with certain diseases, such as cardiovascular anomalies, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, etc.

Indeed, lifestyle is very important in developing acceptable health outcomes. Unfortunately, the "electronic revolution" does not help induce a healthy lifestyle and will have a negative impact on children's...

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