Effects of television on school-girls' physical activity and school performance

Children in Western industrialised countries dedicate more time to watching television (TV) than to any other extra-school activity. Numerous international and national publications have shown that TV favours a sedentary lifestyle and reduces physical activity and school work. This descriptive, transversal study inquires into the TV-watching habits of the school population between 10 and 14 years of age in the city of Plasencia (Extremadura). The study method was based on filling in questionnaires addressed to 494 selected schoolchildren, their parents and their teachers, which referred to TV-watching habits, the time dedicated to physical exercise, sleep and reading, and academic performance. This article shows the results obtained with the 244 girls that participated in the survey. It was proved that girls dedicate 15.9 hours a week to watching TV, an amount of time well above the current recommendations, to the detriment of physical activity, sleep and study, and also that many parents allow their children to watch TV on their own, with no time limits or content selection. People responsible for children’s education must prepare specific programmes to re-educate children’s TV-watching habits.