The Burden of Obesity in North Carolina Screen Time.

The Burden of Obesity in The Burden of Obesity in North CarolinaNorth Carolina

Screen TimeScreen Time

Screen TimeScreen Time

Nearly 80% of U.S. households have Nearly 80% of U.S. households have multiple TV sets. multiple TV sets.

More than two-thirds of households with More than two-thirds of households with children own video and computer games. children own video and computer games.

Children, on average, spend up to 5-6 Children, on average, spend up to 5-6 hours per day involved in sedentary hours per day involved in sedentary activities.activities.

Video and Computer GamesVideo and Computer Games

Almost all (92%) of U.S. Almost all (92%) of U.S. children and adolescents children and adolescents ages 2-17 play video ages 2-17 play video games.games.

On any given day, 30% of On any given day, 30% of all children ages 2-18 will all children ages 2-18 will play a video game.play a video game.

Children spend an average Children spend an average of more than an hour of more than an hour playing video games.playing video games.

Increased hours of screen timeIncreased hours of screen time

The average screen time for children is The average screen time for children is more than 5 hours per day.more than 5 hours per day. Children spend more time sitting in front of Children spend more time sitting in front of

screens than any other activity besides screens than any other activity besides sleeping. sleeping.

About 43 percent of North Carolina About 43 percent of North Carolina children watched an average of 2-4 hours children watched an average of 2-4 hours of television a day. of television a day.

N.C. Students & Screen TimeN.C. Students & Screen TimePercentage of N.C. Students Who Watched 3+ Hours

of TV or Played 3+ Hours of Video or Computer Games on an Average School Day (2007)

43%46%

43%37%

34% 35% 34%

23%18%19%20%

26%26%26%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th

Per

cen

tag

e o

f S

tud

ents

Watched anAverage of 3+Hours of TV

Played Video orComputerGames or Useda Computer for3+ Hours

Source: North Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. (2007).

Approximately 33% of U.S. Children Approximately 33% of U.S. Children watch more than 3 hours of TV per daywatch more than 3 hours of TV per day

Percentage of Children who Watch TV on a Typical Day

(1999)

0 hours17%

1 hour or less19%

1 to 3 hours31%

3 to 5 hours16%

More than 5 hours

17%

Source: Kids & Media at the New Millennium, Kaiser Family Foundation, November 1999

Patterns of TV and Media Use Patterns of TV and Media Use

43% of children, age 2 or younger, watch TV 43% of children, age 2 or younger, watch TV every dayevery day

41% of children 2-3 years old and 43% of 41% of children 2-3 years old and 43% of children 4-6 years old use screen media for more children 4-6 years old use screen media for more than 2 hours per daythan 2 hours per day

Children, ages 8-18, watch an average of 3 hours Children, ages 8-18, watch an average of 3 hours of TV per dayof TV per day

The average family owns 4 TV setsThe average family owns 4 TV sets

Food AdvertisementsFood Advertisements

Food ads account for Food ads account for more than 50% of all more than 50% of all ads targeting children ads targeting children and youth.and youth.

Food manufacturers Food manufacturers spend almost $7 spend almost $7 billion annually on billion annually on advertising, and 75% advertising, and 75% of this is allocated to of this is allocated to television.television.

Food AdvertisementsFood Advertisements

Fast-food restaurants Fast-food restaurants alone spend over $3 alone spend over $3 billion a year in billion a year in television ads television ads targeted to childrentargeted to children

Increased screen time can Increased screen time can contribute to obesitycontribute to obesity

While watching TV, children may:While watching TV, children may: snack moresnack more

watch more commercials for high-calorie and/or watch more commercials for high-calorie and/or high-fat foods and select these foodshigh-fat foods and select these foods

have a lower metabolic ratehave a lower metabolic rate

substitute screen time for activities that burn substitute screen time for activities that burn more caloriesmore calories