TV eating up family mealtime

A generation of "TV-dinner" kids might be learning their eating habits from Homer Simpson, according to a recent survey. 

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that more than 42 percent of dinners eaten at home by Houston-area fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders during a one-week survey were consumed while watching television. 

"These findings are troubling because family meals are important for children, from both a nutritional and a developmental standpoint," said Dr. Karen Cullen, a behavioral nutritionist with the USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center. 

Cullen presented the results of the survey, which involved 287 school children who provided detailed records of what they ate and their food-related behaviors, at the American Dietetic Association annual meeting in Denver, Oct. 17.

Survey results suggest that concern over these "TV-dinner" kids might be warranted. Overweight children reported eating 50 percent of their dinner meals while watching television, compared to just 35 percent by normal-weight children. African-American and Mexican-American children--two groups identified as at-risk for weight problems--reported the greatest number of dinner meals eaten while watching television: 62 and 43 percent respectively. Asian-American children reported the fewest, 21 percent, while European-American kids reported eating 32 percent of their dinner meals while watching television.

"We know there's a link between the number of hours children spend watching television and weight problems," Cullen said. "People who watch television while eating also tend to be unaware of how much they eat, which encourages overeating."

 Nutritionists are concerned that "TV-dinner" kids might tune out their natural hunger and satiety cues.  They also point to research that suggests children tend to request food products that are more frequently advertised on television. Most of these products happen to be those that are low in nutritional value.

"Food commercials often suggest the use of food for purposes like fun or 'image' rather than to satisfy hunger or be healthy, and seldom show how the advertised food fits into a healthy diet," Cullen said. 

Families that tune into television instead of each other at mealtime also miss important opportunities to talk and connect. 

"Parents' table talk can help children to understand their families," Cullen said. "Positive family mealtime conversations can also build children's self-esteem and foster positive relationships that help children and parents talk through tough issues when they arise."

Research suggests that children who eat dinner with their parents tend to eat healthier, consuming less saturated fat and more of several important nutrients than their unsupervised peers. Poor eating habits are linked to several chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, non-insulin dependant diabetes, osteoporosis, and some cancers in adulthood.

"Family meals play an important role in helping children learn good eating and life skills from their parents," Cullen said. "Parents need to turn off the television during meals and engage their children."

Abstract: BMI Related to Number of Meals Eaten Watching TV as Reported by 4TH  to 6TH Grade Students:  Demographic Differences.