Question 2
How could the results of this study be used to help reduce TV/video-game viewing and salty-snack consumption among children in this age group?
posted by SarahU @ 4:42 PM
29 comments
ISU Dietetic Internship Journal Club
Objective: To become familiar with current scientific literature on a variety of nutrition topics and to gain experience in gathering, organizing, critically evaluating, presenting and facilitating group discussion of the literature and the implications to practice.
29 Comments:
If the results of this study were to become well known and replicated, the information could be hugely beneficial especially for parents of children with asthma. If parents were made aware of the effects of these foods on asthma symptoms and that increased screen time results in more frequent consumption of these foods, perhaps more regulation may be put on screen time. Additionally, the parents are the gatekeepers of what foods enter the home, and this information could help persuade parents to purchase more healthy snacks for their children.
This study gives more evidence to the fact that unhealthy eating and inactivity may lead to health issues, including asthma. I believe that these factors lead to someone becoming overweight, which then lead to other health conditions. It is important that teachers, parents and everyone working with children emphasize the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle beginning at a young age.
Getting these results to the public especially schools and parents may help reduce screen time and salty-snack consumption. Although we do the best we can in nutrition education and know the consequences of lots of TV and little healthy snacks people need to see results from studies like this one over and over. The best we can do is continue to educate even though we would rather replace all those snacks and pull the TV cord from the wall :) This study will hit home for those who have children with asthma and may make a difference but as Liz touched on, large amounts of TV and unhealthy snacks lead to other conditions other than asthma so it is important to be familiar with other studies so we can educate that its not just asthma.
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Like the researchers concluded, it would be important to focus on changing unhealthy dietary habits of this age group, particularly the intake of salty snacks. In addition, I think it would important to include education on an overall healthy diet that encompasses all foods and does not restrict children’s intake too drastically. The amount of time spent in front of the TV/video games would also be an important component. Physical activity, within the limits of the child’s asthma, should also be encouraged as part of an overall healthy lifestyle.
The results of this study could be very beneficial if additional research is done on this subject and has similar findings. Asthma can be very scary for children and parents that are affected by it. Having more of an awareness of the connection between sodium/snack food consumption, physical inactivity and an individual's health may lead to long-term lifestyle changes and healthier food choices. Parents may become more conscious about choosing certain snack foods and food in general, which can have a positive impact on the entire family's health.
This study intrigued me, but mostly because I am not convinced that this positively correlates TV watching and asthma. It occurred to me that children with severe asthma probably are less active, and therefore do less active things, like watching TV, but I didn't like how the article made the correlation that a child who watches TV 2 hrs a week and eats salty foods at least 2 time a week is 1.48 more times likely to have asthma. I feel like it is implying that eating salty foods and watching TV can cause asthma, and I do not see anything in the summary to back up this statement. Therefore, the only application I would make is that it could be helpful for parents with children who have asthma to see how salty food and TV watching may be affecting their child.
Yet again, research is finding another disease that may be influenced by lack of exercise and poor eating habits. Therefore, I do not think the results of this study would have that big of an impact on reducing tv/video game viewing and salty-snack consumption. The reasoning for my pessimism is that if Type 2 Diabetes or high blood pressure hasn't scared parents into purchasing healthier foods and putting a time limit on sedentary activities than I am not sure if asthma will. I guess that's where we need to work harder to figure out how to get through to these parents and their children. I think much more research needs to be done supporting this study and in order for it to be beneficial in the US we need similar studies done here with American children. This research is however a useful resource for us as RDs when working with parents or children on healthy eating habits and exercise. Anything that backs up what we preach is going to beneficial for our arguement.
Sarah G makes a great point about this study being beneficial for children who already have asthma. At first I looked at this study as having more of a preventative impact so I did not consider those kids that already suffer from asthma symptoms. This study reiterates to the parents of children with asthma that a healthy diet and exercise is very important to the overall health of their children which may influence them to push their children further to make smarter choices.
I believe that with more research on the topic to solidify the results, that this information could be especially useful to a dietitian when counseling patients and their parents. If parents had the knowledge of this study’s results, then some may be more likely to promote a healthy lifestyle for their child. I also think that this information could be promoted in schools, possibly in health/P.E. classes, to influence children’s decisions on the activities and snacks they choose after school. This information needs to reach the public and be emphasized again and again in order to persuade some people to take healthier actions.
The results of this study help link an increase in screen time with unhealthy eating behaviors. With the results of this study, and others like it, promotion of physical activity and healthy snack consumption in children is becoming more of a nationwide concern. If an increase in both of these behaviors can continue to be linked to adverse health conditions, issues will need to be addressed and possibly regulations need to made on a national level.
The results of this study could be used to support public health messages about the importance of increasing physical activity and healthy snacking among children in this population. However, I think education efforts would need to be careful to not imply that increased screen time and salty snacks cause asthma. Like Michela, I dislike certain aspects of this study but I think it emphasizes the need for continued research on the topic of lifestyle choices and asthma.
I love this question! It really all is about application of research to improve the health of others. I think the best way to use this information would be to summarize the results in an easy-to-understand way and include it in school newsletters and local media outlets. This way, the information can get to the parents/guardians, who may better recognize the importance of physical activity and the Mediterranean Diet in the health of their children.
Michela - I am totally with you! I also had the thought of which came first, the asthmatic symptoms or the physical inactivity/increased screen time. If I had asthma, I probably wouldn't have been as willing as a children to go out and play with other kids or participate in sports. As Sarah G. says, I think it would be good to continue to evalute these kinds of relationship and see if the results are replicable. Only then should the results be shared with the public.
Michela-
I totally agree with you. I feel that this correlation is a little far fetched. However, in the end it is promoting physical activity and a healthy diet so I think it's important.
The results could be posted and available for student’s parents. Also, community dietitians or nutritionists could possibly come speak at these schools during an assembly etc in order to talk to the kids about the importance of physical activity and a healthy diet. Handouts and brochures can also be sent home with parents.
This information can be very useful to the public, mainly focusing on parents and soon to be parents. The new 2010 Food Guidelines have put more of an emphasis on healthy behaviors through all life stages. The data from this study supports that unhealthy behaviors such as increased screen time, consumption of salty snacks, and decreased consumption of healthy food selections can put children at risk for inactive lifestyles and other health affects such as asthma and other respiratory ailments.
I think this study should have been an eye-opener to all parents. 10-12 year old kids are not going to understand the long-term implications of the results and may never help choosing better alternatives. I think the parents should providde healther snacks as well as encourage more enjoyable activities that get the kids up and moving around.
This study would be helpful to parents. The results would show them the importance for reducing television/video game time, salty snacks, and increasing healthy foods and activity. Most parents are concerned with their children's health and this study shows a correlation between TV/snacks/and asthma so it might encourage parents to set limitations on unhealthy snacks and inactivity.
I believe knowledge and evidence is a strong foundation for many people to make a lifestyle change. This study provides information showing a link between these two variables. Giving the parents of the children this information may lead to a push for lifestlye changes.
Liz, you brought up bringing this information to teachers and others working with children. This is an thought I had not considered. I think it would be beneficial since other authoritative figures may also play a beneficial role in lifestyle change.
The results of this study could be more publicized for parents on the news and on other common viewing sites. This has happened recently with the diet soda and cardiovascular study. This study should be better validated by further research before "helping" reduce the viewing and salty-snack consumption. The relationship is made with asthma and not other health concerns. It is important to have everything in moderation so this could be promoted in a more vague method.
Rose, I could not agree more. It is extremely important to include education on an overall healthy diet that includes a variety of foods and does not restrict children’s intake too drastically. The method of education and delivery of information to kids related to a "diet" should be very "back-door" so not to create eating disorders, body dismorphia, confused feelings toward food consumption, or any other possible complication. In my opinion, this is definitely a touchy area.
I think that using this data in the school systems could bring forth efforts to increase education and awareness of the importance of physical activity over TV/video games and eating healthier foods. Starting in the schools and getting the parents’ attention through the school may help them to bring less salty foods into their homes and better choices like fresh fruits and vegetables. Enlightening the parents’ to the symptoms of asthma and how certain foods and limited physical activity may exacerbate this condition should also help to spur some changes in the households of these children.
Bethany, I think you bring up a valid point about people not being phased by these terrible conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma. It is sad that people know how poor habits can lead to these things, but that is not enough to get them to stop eating fatty foods or smoking a pack per day. I hope that in this case when it involves children, that these parents will make a larger effort to improve the health of their kids.
Amy, I agree with your comments about "diet" being a sensitive topic. I like the idea of education based on this study being given to parents while children receive the more vague "overall healthy eating" education.
I agree with the comments about using this data in the school systems. Moving the food/snacks that are available away from salty, unhealthy ones, and limiting screen-time in schools, would help to make the younger generations, healthier ones. Many activities in schools are headed in a more technology and screen-driven direction. I think it's important to go back-to-basics in many areas of our lives, in order to lead healthier ones, maybe that is the case in our school systems. Allowing teachers to use more activity-based means of educating, instead of relying on screens so much, could be a start?
This study could be referenced when education is being provided in many different settings. Results of the study are especially important for parents to be aware of. I think if I were a parent, this would make me think about what I let my children eat and about how much physical activity they got on a daily basis. It's eye opening when foods are linked to diseases such as asthma that can hinder so many aspects of everyday living. I think parents would want to do everything they could to change their childs habits after receiving and understanding the results of this study.
Anna- I like how you discussed different ways of applying the research and reaching out to communities. School newletters and local media outlets are a great way to access many communities and get the message across to not just children or parents but to everyone. I also agree with many of you discussing the need for more research on the topic. It seems as though salty snacks, inactivity, and asthma could be related in some cases but I feel like there are many other cases where the variables would not correlate.
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