MINNEAPOLIS, April 8, 2008—University of Minnesota School of Public Health researchers found that older adolescents who have a bedroom TV are less likely to engage in healthy activities—exercising, eating right, and enjoying family meals.

Teens with their own TV's also drank more sweetened beverages, ate more fast food, watched more TV, and read or studied less.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents remove television sets from their children's bedrooms. Nevertheless, almost two-thirds of teens in the study had bedroom TVs.

A group of 781 teens participated in the School of Public Health Project Eating Among Teens (EAT) study. The study reported on on their television viewing habits, study habits, grades, diet, exercise habits, and family connectedness.

Over 60 percent of participants had a TV in their bedroom or sleeping area. Those who had a TV watched four to five more hours of television each week.

Girls with a TV spent less time on exercise. They also ate fewer vegetables, and had fewer family meals.

Boys with TVs ate less fruit and fewer family meals, and did more poorly in school.

University of Minnesota's EAT study