Physical activity is harder to quantify. Nevertheless, if they're watching TV, they aren't exercising. Crespo said that the lack of physical activity was particularly evident for girls between 14 and 16, when less than one-third are active. But this may be more of a safety issue, the report says. Many girls who live in low-income neighborhoods tend to stay indoors rather than risk being harmed on the streets or in public.
Many kids are home alone after school and with little else to do, they watch TV and they eat.
Results showed that girls who watched five or more hours of TV a day consumed 175 more calories daily than girls who watched one hour or less. Crespo says that the information gleaned from the study could have important public health implications. Only a little more than half of the children engaged in physical activity five or more days a week. Use of this Web site is subject to certain Terms and Conditions . We may collect personal information on this site, as described in our Privacy Policy .