Sweden edition

Computer use doesn't make kids fat: report

Published: 10 Mar 10 15:30 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/25456/20100310/

Children who spend long periods in front of the television run a far higher risk of being overweight than those spending a long time in front of computer, a new survey of Lund school children has shown.

'Swedish needs a gender-neutral pronoun' (8 Feb 12)
'The Office' breeds with Swedish sitcom in world's first 'spin-make' (7 Feb 12)
Preschool worker 'locked children in the dryer' (26 Jan 12)

The study was conducted by school nurse Pernilla Garmy, who reviewed the answers provided in a questionnaire sent out to all primary school children in the southern Swedish town.

"The results are conclusive," she told local newspaper Metro Skåne.

The study shows that the risk of being overweight is directly affected by whether there was a television in the room, whereas long periods spent in front of the computer had no bearing on a child's weight.

One theory for the survey results posits that using a computer demands more activity from a user -- who may be chatting or playing games -- than watching television, a passive exercise that lends itself to snacking.

TT/The Local (news@thelocal.se/08 656 6518)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Fark It!	Digg This	Share everywhere
Send to a friend	Printable version	Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

17:05 March 10, 2010 by Glempa

I think a study by a school nurse is hardly conclusive. Anyway, Children who spend long time on computers have nothing to limit their viewing time and stay up later and go to school looking like the walking dead. I know, my wife is a teacher and sees it every day.

Report abuse »

17:21 March 10, 2010 by tysklampa

I always thought it was food that caused obesity, not a computer...

Report abuse »

18:02 March 10, 2010 by Audrian

Those who watch TV eat snacks during commercial breaks while those who prefer playing video games are those who often suffer from addiction to games; they might not want to inturrupt their game for "silly" things like snacks.

Report abuse »

18:12 March 10, 2010 by Audrian

Report abuse »

19:25 March 10, 2010 by zeero

:-) A fantastic research... if you can call it like that... any how the local once again is writing everything about nothing....

Report abuse »

19:43 March 10, 2010 by Keith #5083

The only proviso to this report is that the question should have been asked if PC users drank large quantities of soda (eg. Coke,Pepsi,etc).

Otherwise I have always maintained that even brain-use activity burnt calories and therefore PC was less damaging than tv. Of course, when you see most of the tv progs the presumption that they require brain activity is pretty bold.

Perhaps the government could commission a more detailed and in-depth report on this subject

Report abuse »

22:38 March 10, 2010 by johnnyrebel

"The results are conclusive," she told local newspaper Metro Skåne.

Its possible, you know, that this school nurse is correct. But this is a relatively new phenomenon, the relationship between computers and human youth development. In human evolution...will at some point the human species evolve with the computer replacing what we now have for a head...and cell phones replacing our ears. Figuratively if not literally? What effect will it have on our hearts...our ability to feel? What effect will it have on our ability to discern…reality from virtual reality?

Houston…we have a problem.

Report abuse »

22:43 March 10, 2010 by SWOT

I do not think the study is sufficient. If they study the length of time people stay infront of computer, they would get another result.

Report abuse »

00:36 March 11, 2010 by xenyasai

@Glempa: And your wife's anecdotal evidence is more credible?

What is more fascinating is that the Internet and anonymity it can give you makes everyone an expert on any topic.

It is very simple. If you disagree with a report or any kind of research, do your own research. Anecdotal evidence and opinions is not good enough; as anecdotal evidence is not trustworthy and opinions can neither be true or false.

Report abuse »

#10

08:26 March 11, 2010 by spongepaddy

@xenyasai: Well said. You could throw a rock on the web and hit a hundred moaners but not a single actual fact. Although, having dated a nurse, I must admit that they are very far from being scientists...

Report abuse »

#11

10:51 March 11, 2010 by Kevin Harris

Children are way to different from one another to draw any useful conclusions at all from a questionaire type survey.

My sporty 14 year old son trains at football, innebandy and PE, eight times a week. He plays one or two innebandy matches over the weekend and attends free skating twice a week so he can play bandy next year. when he is not training, he sits in front of his computer for several hours at a time. He eats like a horse and is as thin as a rake. His friend, who shares his love of food and computer games, but hates any kind of exercise, is just as thin.

As the old folks say, it only shows you never can tell.

Report abuse »

#12

15:23 March 11, 2010 by karex

@xenyasai

I think that Glempa does have a point though. Scientific research, to be able to claim the results as conclusive must cover a much larger base than just a town. Furthermore, given the same set of variables, the results must be possible to reproduce every time by anyone else doing the same thing. I don't think that they can claim this from one study.

Report abuse »

#13

15:59 March 11, 2010 by BrittInSweden

So a kid who sits in one chair doesn't run the risk of getting as fat as a kid sitting in another chair?

Wow, not surprised it took research to figure that one out...

"The study shows that the risk of being overweight is directly affected by whether there was a television in the room"

Just being in the same room makes you fat? I am staying the hell away from Dixons.

Report abuse »

#14

14:58 March 12, 2010 by Sjayna

Shame on Sweden...to put money on this kind of study...Don't the Swedish people know the connection between eating habits/healthy diet/exercise and obesity! Can not the people calculate out the 'risk factors' by themselves?

Report abuse »

Today's headlines

Swedish blogger snaps commuting 'macho men'

A Stockholm woman fed up with male passengers on public transport taking up the space of women sitting next to them, has started a blog snapping secret pics of straddle-legged commuters and posting them on the internet. READ (34 COMMENTS) »

Swedish town gives 'Negro Village' new name

A suburb of Mjällby, southern Sweden, known by locals as ‘Negro Village’ for forty years, will be changing its name after a storm of recent attention. READ (12 COMMENTS) »

German 'tourist' living in Gothenburg airport

A 27-year-old German man has been living at the Gothenburg Landvetter airport for two months having no wish to return to Germany and nowhere to go in Sweden. READ (12 COMMENTS) »

Dramatic rise in dementia numbers in Sweden

Every second Swede is at risk of developing dementia, according to a new study from Umeå University, which concentrated on the 85+ population in northern Sweden. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Masked man raped cyclist in Malmö park

After a 28-year-old woman was pulled off her bicycle and raped by an unidentified assailant in Malmö over the weekend, and police are fearing it could be the work of a budding serial rapist. READ (16 COMMENTS) »

Narcolepsy victims in new compensation bid

Families of children in Sweden suffering from narcolepsy caused by vaccination for the swine flu can expect some form of compensation, Swedish health minister Göran Hägglund said on Sunday in response to new calls for help from parents. READ (1 COMMENT) »

Löfven ready to negotiate over nuclear power

The new leader of the Social Democrats Stefan Löfven has indicated he's ready to negotiate with the government over the future of nuclear power despite a previous party decision to phase out nuclear energy in Sweden. READ (3 COMMENTS) »

One in five Swedes 'believes in ghosts'

One in five Swedes believes that people rise from the grave after they've died, a new survey has shown. READ (15 COMMENTS) »

More Society

20 things to know before moving to Sweden

As diverse as Sweden is, there are a few societal norms that are distinctly Swedish. Understanding a handful of them will hopefully prepare you culturally before you relocate. When you're invited home to a Swede, you better be on time and take your shoes off, writes expat Lola Akinmade-Åkerström. Read more »

How far can English take you in Sweden?

Sweden is a country where almost everyone can speak English. So why bother to learn Swedish? Edina Varnagy from Hungary managed with English for a whole year but then found that Swedish could open doors – to a job, a social life and greater understanding. Read more »

Click here to get more from Follow Sweden

News from the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Today's most read Today's most commented

In cooperation with DoToday

Jobs in Sweden, in English

512 jobs available
216 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Jobs available: 512

Show all jobs in Sweden

Noticeboard

13/02 Apartment Needed Immediately
13/02 a room available for rent
12/02 Appartment in Gulmarsplan
12/02 Apartment available in Kista.
12/02 Rivstart A1+A2 - One last set , hurry !!
12/02 Need a room or apartment to rent in södertälje

SHOW ALL NOTICES »

Discuss

05:35 Skattereduktion after buying an apartment
00:31 What does that mean?
00:27 Baseball in Gothenburg?
23:26 Pop tarts in Stockholm
23:19 Had problems with my boyfriend
23:09 Working with no knowledge of Swedish?
22:46 Tax deductible for rented property
21:04 Which song are you currently listening to?
20:45 Should I ask her on a date or not?
20:10 Irish Girl has just moved to Sweden!

FULL INDEX »
JUST THE NEWS »
LATEST TOPICS »

Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now

Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se

Get on the Tennis Court with www.babolatshop.se
The new Online Tennis Store with the largest selection of Babolat Products in Sweden
http://www.babolatshop.se

Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp

Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com

The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS

English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE

Advertise