TV habit blamed for children's broken bones

By JO-MARIE BROWN

Children may be breaking their bones because they spend too much time on the couch watching television.

A study by the department of medical and surgical sciences at Otago University has found that about 20 youngsters fracture their wrists or forearms every day.

Researchers believe that New Zealand's rising rate of obesity may be to blame.

Junior research fellow Ianthe Jones said 190 Dunedin children, aged between 3 and 15, were studied.

A large proportion of the children in that group who suffered forearm fractures over a one-year period were overweight or obese.

"That means when those children fall, there's an increased force falling on immature bones," said Mrs Jones.

Exercise was essential for bone growth and development, but activities such as watching television and playing computer games were taking the place of weight-bearing exercises such as running and jumping, she said.

As a result, activities such as walking, standing, playing or running had caused the children studied to fracture their forearms.

Severe traumas resulting from large falls accounted for just 2.7 per cent of fractures for girls and 1.2 per cent of fractures for boys.

Mrs Jones said a lack of calcium in children's diets had added to the problem of broken bones by affecting bone density.

Milk was being passed over in favour of fizzy drinks and other cheaper alternatives.

She said the situation was an important health problem because such fractures took up considerable time for orthopaedic staff.

Food campaigner Paula Dudley said statistics showed that one child in seven was obese.

"They're inactive, the television and computer are becoming the babysitters, and nearly 70 per cent of the food advertising is high in fat and high in sugar," said Ms Dudley.

"I don't think parents realise just how serious the problem of obesity is.

"In the United States, one child in three is obese and I hope we don't have to get to that rate before people take notice."