For a while now, researchers have linked childhood obesity to the amount of television kids watch.
Now, new research suggests that's also true for preschool youngsters, especially if they have a tv in their bedroom.
The study suggests the risk of childhood obesity was directly related to the amount of time that children spent watching tv.
That concerns researchers because the report indicates that children with a tv set in their bedroom watched nearly five hours more of tv per week than those without.
Scientists say there was also a distinction in the amount of television watched by different races.
The study found black children spent the most time watching tv, while white children spent the least time.
One researcher says there needs to be a campaign warning parents of the risks of putting a tv in a small child's room.
The study is published in the June issue of Pediatrics.
June 3, 2002
