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Excessive screen time, obesity main health concerns for children, study says

common_man, sorry i 'missed' the video for so long .. a good positive video with
many wonderful shots of nature, 'specially the animals in the wild .. enjoyed it .. thanks pal.

Updated earlier today at 10:00am


Photo: Excessive screen time has been named the number
one health concern for children. (ABC News: Clarissa Thorpe)

Related Story: Parents warned against rewarding kids with screen time: report
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-14/parents-warned-against-rewarding-kids-with-screen-time-report/6392020

Map: Melbourne 3000 - http://www.google.com/maps/place/Melbourne%203000/@-37.8099,144.9622,5z

Too much time in front of a screen, obesity, and a lack of physical activity have been identified by parents as the three biggest health concerns for Australian children and teenagers.

The Australian Child Health Poll, conducted by Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital, found having an unhealthy diet and bullying were also considered by parents as in the top five children's health issues.

The poll's director, Dr Anthea Rhodes, said the top 10 concerns related to modern lifestyles, rather than traditional issues like allergies and accidents.

"When we've looked to the public and asked them to tell us what's important, they've very clearly told us, it's those issues relating to lifestyle, child welfare and also mental health that are the big problems in their eyes," she said.

--
Top ten child health concerns:

Excessive screen time
Obesity
Not enough physical activity
Unhealthy diet
Bullying
Illegal drug use
Family domestic violence
Internet safety
Child abuse and neglect
Suicide
--

"There's lots of research that tells us about the flow-on effects of obesity in children and the economic effects of that when it persists into adulthood."

Excessive screen time was picked out by 60 per cent of 2,000 respondents, as the number one health issue of concern.

More than 50 per cent said they considered sedentary lifestyle and diet a problem. A similar number also indentified illegal drugs, and family domestic violence a concern.

Ms Rhodes said everyone had a role in fixing it.

"The big problems, as identified by the Australian public, are very much non-traditional health issues and it's really not clear whose responsibility they are.

"Is it healthcare providers? Is it government and policy makers? Or is it the responsibility of parents themselves?

"It's up to people around the nation to sit up and listen and make a difference where they can."

From other news sites:

The Age: Too much screen time is biggest health concern for kids, parents say
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/too-much-screen-time-is-biggest-health-concern-for-kids-parents-say-20151201-glchxi.html

Herald Sun: Victorian parents rate screen time biggest health risk for teens
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victorian-parents-rate-screen-time-biggest-health-risk-for-teens/news-story/d79e9d1dc9999e35650890d96c5b06c5

SBS: Kids top health issue too much screen time
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/12/02/kids-top-health-issue-too-much-screen-time

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-02/screen-time-obesity-main-health-problem-for-children-study-says/6992860