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Thursday, 15 December 2016

No more Blippi

So, I am just as guilty of parking under-5s in front of the computer with some grapes, nuts, a few chips and juice to keep them there, as other people,

What did I learn?

1. Tractor Tom - my favourite and it actually had a carnival episode with real steelband music. I don't know why they had clever and mischievous sheep instead of pigs, but the dog and cat behaved in  species appropriate ways. The various machines and the people were a bit stereotyped as well.

2. Pepper Pig. Not excited about it.

3. Paw Patrol. OK and I was impressed that they had a baby turtle rescue episode.

4. Blippi has done me no harm but I cannot stand him.

5. Various tractor and other machinery simulations. A gender role specialist could spend some time on those.

6. Baby Einstein. Just when I was wondering how much classical music they would play I heard some steelband and some ragtime.

7. The Good Dinosaur is not rated as highly as other Pixar movies but I really liked it.


2016 Feb 4;16:116. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-2791-9.

Screen-based sedentary behavior and associations with functional strength in 6-15 year-old children in the United States.

Edelson LR1, Mathias KC2, Fulgoni VL 3rd3, Karagounis LG4.

Author information

  • 1Nestlé Research Center, Case Postale 44, CH-1000, Lausanne, Switzerland. Lisarobin.edelson@rdls.nestle.com.
  • 2Nestlé Research Center, Case Postale 44, CH-1000, Lausanne, Switzerland. Kevin.mathias@rdls.nestle.com.
  • 3Nutrition Impact, 9725 D Drive North, Battle Creek, MI, 49014, USA. VIC3rd@aol.com.
  • 4Nestlé Research Center, Case Postale 44, CH-1000, Lausanne, Switzerland. Leonidas.karagounis@rdls.nestle.com.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Physical strength is associated with improved health outcomes in children. Heavier children tend to have lower functional strength and mobility. Physical activity can increase children's strength, but it is unknown how different types of electronic media use impact physical strength.

METHODS:

Data from the NHANES National Youth Fitness Survey (NNYFS) from children ages 6-15 were analyzed in this study. Regression models were conducted to determine if screen-based sedentary behaviors (television viewing time, computer/video game time) were associated with strength measures (grip, leg extensions, modified pull-ups, plank) while controlling for potential confounders including child age, sex, BMI z-score, and days per week with 60+ minutes of physical activity. Grip strength and leg extensions divided by body weight were analyzed to provide measures of relative strength together with pull-ups and plank, which require lifting the body.

RESULTS:

The results from the regression models showed the hypothesized inverse association between TV time and all strength measures. Computer time was only significantly inversely associated with the ability to do one or more pull-ups.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study shows that television viewing, but not computer/videogames, is inversely associated with measures of child strength while controlling for child characteristics and physical activity. These findings suggest that "screen time" may not be a unified construct with respect to strength outcomes and that further exploration of the potential benefits of reducing television time on children's strength and related mobility is needed.
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