#419: TV can raise blood pressure in obese children

Dr. Tedd Mitchell, president of Cooper Clinic, discusses the recent study reported in American Journal of Preventive Medicine (http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSFLE27756320071212) that obese children who watched two to four hours of TV each day were 2.5 times more likely to have high blood pressure than their peers who watched less TV.  Dr. Mitchell explains the role of NEAT, Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (the energy expended for everything we do that is not sleeping, eating, or sports-like exercise), and how it impacts overall weight. Sitting still burns few calories, standing burns more calories than sitting, and walking burns more calories than standing. Healthy children need to keep moving. Children have access to TV, computers, electronic games, and other gadgets that keep them sitting and inactive. Dr. Mitchell suggests removal of the TV and computer from the bedroom (so time can be monitored), and urges parents to enforce a household rule of "no eating in front of the TV.?