344. Kids who watch too much TV at risk for future addictions
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Watching too much television as a kid elevates the risk for future addictions, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. Researchers in New Zealand collected data on TV viewing time of children born between 1972 and 1973 when they were 5 to 15 years old. They observed that children who watched excess television were more likely to have addictions to gambling, smoking, alcohol, and marijuana. They argue that their data proves that parents should aim to limit their kids’ screen time, ideally two hours or less per day.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
