Study: Electronic Controls for Screen Time Help Obese Kids Slim Down

Another study in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine related to videogames has been published. U. Buffalo researchers investigated whether parental control over screen time was enhanced with an electronic time limiting device. Changes in Body Mass Index (BMI) were used for rating effectiveness. Families with obese children aged 4-7 years with a BMI in at least the 75th percentile who were reported by parents to engage in at least 14 hours/week of television and/or videogames were chosen for inclusion. A total of 34 students were in the experimental group, and 36 were in the control group.

The electronic device was a product called TV Allowance from Mindmaster, Inc. The device resided between the television or computer and the wall plug, requiring a four digit code for access. The experimental group agreed to have the device installed and secured in place by university personnel.

Weekly limits for the experimental group were set from a baseline, and decreased regularly until the limits reached 50% of the baseline. Once the budgeted time was reached, the machine (TV or computer) could no longer be turned on for the remainder of the week. Additional monetary incentives were offered to the children at the rate of $0.25 per half hour under their weekly budget, up to $2.00. Research staff and parents also offered praise to the children for coming in under budget on their screen time. Staff sent a newsletter to parents offering sample praise and activity suggestions. Meanwhile, the control group children were allowed unfettered access to television and computer time, and were given $2.00 per week regardless of screen time.

The study lasted two years, and results showed BMI decreasing in the control group to a statistically significant extent.

Our findings show that television viewing and computer use can be modified in young children using behavioral engineering technology that provides parental control over a child’s screen time budget while giving the child the opportunity to choose how to spend this budget.

Also of interest, children from homes with lower socio-economic status seemed to benefit more from the control device. The researchers sum up thusly:

There may be unique advantages to environmental manipulations that modify the shared family environment, including television and computer use, in which children develop positive behaviors that provide the basis for lifetime good eating and physical activity habits and a healthy body weight.

Researchers on the team included: Leonard H. Epstein, PhD; James N. Roemmich, PhD; Jodie L. Robinson, MA, MBA; Rocco A. Paluch, MA; Dana D. Winiewicz; Janene H. Fuerch; and Thomas N. Robinson, MD, MPH.

Here is the UB press release, and here is a write-up by K.C. Jones in InformationWeek.

References:
Epstein, L. H, Roemmich; J. N., Robinson, J. L., Paluch, R. A., Winiewicz, D. D., Fuerch, J. H, & Robinson, T. N. (2008, March 3). A randomized trial of the effects of reducing television viewing and computer use on body mass index in young children. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 162(3). 239-245.

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