TV Bad for Eyes

New research has found six-year-olds who spent the most time watching television had narrower arteries in the back of their eyes, increasing their chances of heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes in later life.

The study, from the University of Sydney, showed the increased health risks from each hour a day of relevision was similar to that associated with an increase of 10mm HG in systolic blood pressure, the team said. Australian-based researchers looked at 1,500 six-to-seven-year-old children in 34 primary schools in Sydney. Those who regularly participated in outdoor physical activity had wider average retinal arterioles compared to children with the lowest activity levels.