May 5, 2011
Researchers say there may be a connection between children who watch television and cardiovascular risk later in life.
Six year olds who spend the most time watching, using a computer or playing video games may develop narrower arteries in the backs of their eyes, which is a common marker for the disease.
This according to Australian researchers.
They found that this sort of sedentary behavior was associated with an average narrowing of one thousandth of a millimeter in the retinal arteriolar caliber.
And, that this narrowing affected six-and-seven year olds who regularly participated in outdoor physical activity more than kids with the lowest level of activity.
The results of the study are listed in the 'Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: Journal of the American Heart Association.'