One parent whose family is taking the no-television pledge said his children, ages 5 and 10, will skip the few hours of public television they usually are allowed. But we have to set an example for our children. At the same time, about one in 15 school-age children is overweight. Those numbers add up to a public health crisis, Satcher said. As adults, today's young couch potatoes will have heart disease, diabetes and other life-threatening ailments, he said.
Entire families keep the set on eight hours a day, says the nonprofit group.
It hopes 6 million children and adults will turn off their televisions and use time to toss footballs, take walks or ride bikes. Since 1995, the group has organized pledge drives through schools and community centers. With the added features of multiple channels, video games and DVD movies, television time is sure to rise, Kurz said. The campaign coincides with major broadcast industry meetings this week. In recent years, executives from the TV networks and movie studios have been criticized for targeting their products to children, particularly when the shows contain sex and violence.