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Stop kids from being couch potatoes Watching TV can be hazardous to a child‘s health. Recent research has clearly shown that the more time spent in front of the tube, the more likely children and teenagers will become overweight. Now, scientists at the University of California have found that children watching TV on average of two or more hours a day were more likely to develop high blood cholesâ€" terol levels. It‘s not likely that the culprit is the TV watching itself, but the impact that TV watching can have on the rest of your child‘s life. Let‘s face it, many Canadian children spend more time in front of the TV each week than they do in school. That doesn‘t leave much time for active pursuits. Not only are children burning less energy than they would be if they were outside playing, watching TV can so deeply relax some children that their metabolism becomes depressed. These children then burn calories at a much slower rate than normal while they sit and watch television â€" almost as slow as while they are sleeping. To make matters worse, children are often encouraged to eat while they watch television. Many studies have shown that children‘s programming contains a large number of food ads for high calorie, low nutrient munchies. As well, the most popular sutton groupâ€" | people properties AN INDEPENDENT MEMBER BROKER iJ â€" Member of the Oakville/Mitton District plus Toronto Real Estate Boards ... WITH EXPOSURE TO OVER 23,550 MEMBERS Albert Venditti, sa.s:.. TV personalities and cartoon characâ€" ters seem to live on snack foods alone but still stay happy, healthy, and full of bounce. Studies have shown that watching these role models and ads can lead some children to eating more high fat, high calorie foods. This is especially true for children who are easily influenced by likeable, cartoon characters. So, what‘s a parent to do? The Halton Regional Health Department recommends: * Set a limit on the amount of time your child spends watching TV. No more than 2 hours per day is a reasonâ€" able goal. * Tune into what your kids are watching. This goes for both program content and advertising. Use your viewing time together as a chance to help your child learn to tell the differâ€" ence between what is real and what is imaginary. * Teach children how to tell the difâ€" ference between the ads and regular programming. Explain that the purâ€" pose of ads is to sell things. Stress that "free gifts", contests, and other proâ€" motions are all gimmicks used to increase sales. * Keep nutritious snack foods in stock and show children how to preâ€" pare healthy snacks for themselves. * Teach children to recognize when they are hungry and that HUNGER is Sales Representative For all your Real Estate Needs Please call 844â€"5000 inc. A m A Special PURPLE DINO His Little Green Friend Will Be Stopping By. _ The Paper Factory the reason to reach for food, not an advertiser‘s sales pitch. * Get outside and play with your children, instead of watching televiâ€" sion. * Write to networks, producers, and local stations to express concern when less healthy behaviors are portrayed or to congratulate those who make healthy food and exercise appealing. 6 L I V E R READY â€" TO â€" FINISH FINISHED FURNITURE * ROCKING CHAIRS * WINDSOR BENCHES * SECRETARY DESKS * WOODEN TOYS * STORAGE CHESTS * BLANKET BOXES * DEACON‘S BENCHES * GRANNY TRUNKS * CORNER CABINETS * ENTERTAINMENT UNITS * ROLL TOP DESKS ® TABLES CHAIRS CUSTOM ORDERS FINISHING AVAILABLE OPEN SUNDAYS WE DELIVER TO HALTON PEEL 2425 MARINE DR poeo!t ‘I tudy ‘KepHJ4 YIAVIG TTIIAYXVO 4HL â€" 6