Group urges taking TVs out of children’s bedrooms

Televisions should be removed from children’s bedrooms, an expert leading an EU-funded project on childhood obesity has urged.

The ToyBox study on obesity prevention for children aged four to six also urges pre-schools to turn off the television and concentrate on fun activities.

A former member of the national taskforce on obesity, John O’Riordan, said banning television in nurseries and children’s bedrooms made sense as there was evidence linking sedentary behaviour, such as watching television, with subsequent obesity.