Media

Many forms of media exist and are readily available to many people. The most common form is the television. �The commercialization of children's television is one of several concerns raised by health professional regarding the impact of television on children's well-being� (Lewis & Hill, 1998, p.206). Media use is generally includes the use of video games, non academic computer use, and especially television. �Strasburger (1992) estimated that children on average will spend more time watching television than sitting in class by the time they graduate high school� (Clocksin et al., 2002). This increase in television viewing by children is expressed in many of the studies included in the literature review and is identified as a contributing factor to obesity. Specifically, media use is linked to increased body fat, decreased physical activity levels and increased high-energy food intake (Clocksin et al., 2003; Story, 2003; Dietz & Gortmaker, 1985; Jeffery & French, 1998; Gable & Lutz, 2000; Faith et al., 2001; Myers & Vargas, 2000; Forster, Foust & Brady, 2002). Any activities that require lower cognitive stimulation, such as television viewing, increased the risk of obesity in children two-fold (Strauss & Knight, 1999, as cited in Clocksin et al., 2002).