Too Much Screen Time. Too Much Kid.

Too Much Screen Time. Too Much Kid.

National Media Research Organization to Report Results From Groundbreaking Childhood Obesity Prevention Study; Unveils National Public Service Announcement to Battle Issue

WASHINGTON, May 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Institute on Media and the Family, a national media watchdog and research organization, will announce its results from a childhood obesity prevention study.

WHO: David Walsh, Ph.D., founder and president of the National Institute
on Media and the Family

WHAT: The National Institute on Media and the Family, partnering with the
Cargill Foundation, Medica Foundation and the Healthy and Active
American Foundation, piloted Switch(R), an eight-month program
designed to Switch what kids "do, view and chew." The goal was to
measure and evaluate changes in behavior relating to fitness
levels, nutritional choices and screen time usage of third-,
fourth- and fifth-graders. The preliminary results show increases
in physical activity and consumption of fruits and vegetables, and
decreases in screen time by the children participating in the
program.

To remind parents that too much screen time is harmful for their
child's health, the National Institute on Media and the Family is
airing a national public service announcement. The PSA will be
airing in more than 20 media markets across the country.

WHERE: National Press Club, Murrow Room, 529 14th Street NW,
Washington, D.C.

WHEN: Thursday, May 24, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. EDT

WHY: America's children are spending more time in front of their
televisions and computers. Today, the average child spends over 44
hours per week in front of a screen and has more access to
television, with 43 percent of children ages four to six having a
TV in their bedrooms.

A recent study has shown that children with televisions in their
bedrooms are at 31 percent greater risk for being overweight or
obesity.

The National Institute on Media and the Family is an independent non- partisan, non-sectarian, nonprofit organization. The Institute's mission is to maximize the benefits and minimize the harm mass media have on children through research and education. For more information, visit http://www.mediafamily.org/.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: National Institute on Media and the Family

CONTACT: Darin Broton, +1-651-221-1999 (office), +1-651-497-9622 (cell),
or Blois Olson, +1-651-276-1678 (cell), both of National Institute on Media
and the Family

Web site:

http://www.mediafamily.org/

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