Excessive Use of the Computer can Increase Risk of Cancer and Obesity in Children

When children spend long hours in front of a screen, it puts them at a much higher risk of cancer in adult life. Experts caution that even with regular exercise, extended hours in front of the television can be detrimental to children’s health and can increase their risk of getting cancer in their adult life.

It is for this reason that parents are asked to restrict the amount of time kids watch television or play computer games and ideally it should be less than two hours a day.

“People often assume sedentary behavior is the same as physical inactivity. But someone can do the ­recommended amount of daily physical activity and still be sedentary. Children may well get plenty of physical activity at school through sports or playing but if they spend a lot of time sitting down at home they might develop habits which could increase their risk of diseases like cancer, heart disease and diabetes in the future.”

Professor Mitch Blair of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: “Whether it’s mobile phones, games consoles, TVs or laptops, advances in technology mean children are exposed to screens for longer amounts of time than ever before. We are becoming increasingly concerned that this encourages a more sedentary ­lifestyle. We would also advise restricting prolonged periods of screen time and recommend less than two hours a day in total.”



Source-Medindia