According to an article in the journal Nutrition Research and Practice from February 2010, diet quality was worst among teens when they're on the Internet. Irregular bedtimes and the use of alcohol and tobacco were higher among this demographic as well. The authors report that irregular dietary behavior due to the loss of appetite, frequently skipping meals and snacking causes imbalances in nutritional intake.
Childhood Obesity
Dr. Peter Nieman, pediatrician at Alberta Children's Hospital, says one of the main reasons for an increase in obesity among children is inactivity. He attributes this to TV watching and the Internet. Children who spend a lot of time on the Internet often snack instead of eating healthy meals, and producers of unhealthy snack foods use interactive websites to advertise to children. Childhood obesity can lead to health problems such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease in later life. Poor nutrition can inhibit growth and development in children.
Eating Habits
Adults and teens who spend a lot of time on the Internet often eat unhealthy snacks, forget to eat at all or skip meals. They aren't aware of what or how much they are eating. They drink alcohol or sugary soft drinks. Poor eating habits and lack of exercise create health problems for adults as well as children, including obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, as well as low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome and frequent headaches.
Solutions for Children
Parents are the ones who provide food for their children. They can offer healthier food and limit the amount of snack foods and sugary drinks their children consume. Parents can use the Internet to help their children learn healthy eating habits by researching information about healthy diets online with their children. They can teach children to use the Internet to keep track of nutrients in their diet and to locate healthy recipes that parents and children can make together. Parents can limit screen time, or time spent in front of the computer; television; or video games so that their children have more time for physical activity.
Solutions for Adults
Awareness can help adults to change poor dietary habits. Rather than mindlessly eating whatever is handy, pay attention to what you eat, how much you eat and how often. Use the Internet to track your diet and exercise, and analyze the nutritional content of your diet. Have healthy snacks on hand rather than nutritionally empty snacks. Put a limit on the amount of time you spend on the Internet and spend more time walking or exercising. Search the Internet for information on how to improve your diet.
Considerations
Prevent Internet addiction from damaging your health, your relationships, your work and your education. Limit the amount of time spent on the Internet and focus on specific tasks rather than mindlessly surfing the web. Turn off the computer and eat meals with your family rather than eating in front of the computer. Enjoy physical activities with your family, rather than isolating yourselves in front of the computer and TV with a bag full of chips or cookies.
References
- "Nutr Res Pract"; The effects of Internet addiction on the lifestyle and dietary behavior of Korean adolescents; Yeonsoo K et al.; February 2010
- Commercial Exploitation.org: Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood
- HET-initiative.org: Health Technologies Initiative
