Children who eat in front of TV 'more likely to be obese', claims study

Children who eat while watching TV are more likely to be obese, a new study has claimed. Food experts have revealed the reason why this might be the case.

They said screens - including TVs, iPads and mobile devices - distract youngsters from feeling full and so they end up eating more. The University of Minho study looked at 735 schoolchildren and found screen time at meals increased the chance of a large waist by 15 per cent, reported The Sun.

Figures also showed that 91 per cent of children in the UK now own a smartphone by the age of 11. Kids on average spend two to four hours online per day.

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Dr Ana Duarte, who carried out the study at the Portugal university, said: “When children are eating and watching something on a TV or a mobile phone, they don’t understand when they need to stop eating or when they are full. They continue to eat and eat just because they are distracted by the screens.

“This is bad for society and dangerous for children. It is leading to them being overweight or obese.”

Tam Fry, chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, added: “Family meals are fast becoming a distant memory. It’s clear that letting children mindlessly graze whilst networking or slumped in front of the telly is damaging their health.”