More bad news about children and television viewing--it raises their blood pressure.

Time magazine reports that researchers in the United States and Spain collaborated on a study of more than 100 children aged 3-8 to examine the link between their blood pressure and their choice of inactive pastimes, including watching television, using the computer, and reading. They discovered that regardless of the child's weight, children who watched between 1.5 and 5.5 hours of television a day had blood pressure readings that were five to seven points higher than those children watching TV less than half an hour a day.

This troubles me for a variety of reasons. First, of course, is the health of the children. Sustained high blood pressure can lead to heart disease later in life. Inactivity leads to any number of health problems, including strength and endurance issues. Second, children who watch television close to their bedtime may remain too stimulated to sleep properly. Their bodies don't have an opportunity to recharge properly, so these children are going to have trouble paying attention in school.

Television viewers may also snack on unhealthy foods while watching TV, contributing to childhood obesity and, in some cases, diabetes. Children who have health issues can suffer further in school, where (as reported in a blog last August), positions">positions such as school nurse have often been cut to help balance budgets.

Come on, parents. Let's turn off the television and get children outside for some physical activity.