With Mayo Clinic nutritionists Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.

You might wonder, why would a dietitian be writing about screen time — the time spent in front of a television or computer. Shouldn't she be more interested in what is happening in the kitchen?

There's a strong link between excessive screen time and childhood obesity. An obvious association is the couch potato syndrome — simple inactivity. One that may be less obvious is how that time shapes children's food preferences and what ends up in your home. Or as children are given more independence, what food purchases they will make on their own.

Billions of marketing dollars are aimed at children, a significant portion through television advertisements but even more through other means of marketing in schools, packaging, video games and such. That money is well spent on the food industry's part as children influence the family's food budget. More importantly, exposing children early on, as early as ages 1-4, will impact preferences and choices when they are older.

Sit with a child while they are watching television or are on the Web and pay special attention to what images of food and beverages they are exposed to. Due to the public awareness of the obesity crisis, you may see that there have been changes in the marketing of some programs and advertisements — encouraging physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption.

What are your thoughts? Does the food industry have a responsibility for the type and/or amount of advertising children are exposed to? Does it fall exclusively on parents to limit screen time and control the family food choices?

To your health,

Katherine

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