A thousand children born in Dunedin, New Zealand between 1972-73 were monitored at numerous intervals until turning 26.

The researchers conclude that there is a link between excessive television viewing and consequent cardiovascular illness.

Watching between one and two hours is good but less than an hour a day is even better, the data suggests.

Do you think the link is valid? How much television do you watch?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

Your comments:

Recent studies show, that if small kids watch too much TV, they don't develop their concentration muscles properly, which can have a life time affect on anyone. Don't let your children stay glued to the TV.
Syed Atif Ali, Dubai

Undoubtedly any excess in anything is unhealthy, but when it comes to TV watching I'm sure it is even for adults, let alone kids and adolescents. From my work as a journalist I follow news at least eight hours a day and I can say that I feel some signs of irregular heart beating and stress and uneasiness in sleeping naturally in addition to bad consequences on the eyes and the impact on the mind.
Hassan M Esbaiss, Doha, Qatar

I gave up satellite TV exactly because of this. I spend the money I save on a bike and healthier food. Boy do I feel better all round!
Juliette Simmons, Northampton, UK

I have a flat-screen TV on the wall in front of my treadmill so I can watch the soaps while exercising - sad or what?
Danny, London, UK

There's no question staring at a TV or computer screen is fairly weird behaviour Michael J, Toronto

There's no question staring at a TV or computer screen is fairly weird behaviour. We can't see it today because we are too immersed in it. But if there is such a thing as a future enlightened society, they might ask what crime we had committed such that we had to confine ourselves inside a closed chamber for many hours on end, and force ourselves to stare at a glowing glass panel.
Michael J, Toronto, Canada

When I was young, children's programmes were on TV for just a couple of hours per day with a choice of two channels. Now there are dozens of kids' channels broadcasting day and night. It's harder for parents now the drag their kids away from the TV, because there's so much of it.
Steve, Nottingham, UK

Does looking at a computer screen have a similar effect? Could see an awful lot of people having to find new jobs or suing their employers in the coming years!
Lee, Hebburn, England

You cannot compare watching TV with reading a book. One is an entirely passive activity with almost hypnotic effects, whilst the other requires reading skills and encourages the imagination to construct its own version of the storyline. Oh, and there are very few adverts for fizzy drinks, fatty foods or expensive toys in your average children's storybook.
Chris Palmer, London, UK

I object to 24 hour cartoon channels Ketan, Neasden, UK

I'm concerned for children regarding this matter. I object to some 24 hour cartoon channels as it has become an addiction for many children. As adults we have the wisdom to watch or not to watch excessively, children don't; Parents need to do much more.
Ketan, Neasden, UK

Let's not forget that some TV is actually quite educational and informative. Sport and other such activities will help make your body fit and healthy, but sitting still watching the right kind of TV or reading will help make your brain fit and healthy!
Kirsty, Kent, UK

As an ex-cable holder, I think we shouldn't worry about it too much, if the TV programming doesn't change radically the UK might become the fittest nation in the world! I'd rather run 10 miles than watch another reality show, wouldn't you?
Carmen, Blackpool

I would definitely get out and about more if it wasn't for not wanting to miss reality TV programmes that I'm addicted to!
DJ, Belfast

Suddenly watching 2 hours and 10 minutes of television is bad but 2 hours is ok? The report does not say anything about how much exercise the children actually did.
Katie, Swindon, UK

There is no proof that it is the act of watching television that causes problems in later life Simon, Cambridge, UK

What a load of rubbish. All they have proved is that people who watched more TV when young tended to be those who developed illnesses in later life that are related to a sedentary lifestyle. There is no proof that it is the act of watching television that causes problems in later life. It seems far more likely that watching a lot of TV is indicative of a person who is likely to lead a sedentary lifestyle in later life, in the same way that those who watch less TV are more active now, and likely to remain so in adulthood.
Simon, Cambridge, UK

I think it is better for people to go out and socialise, exercise and enjoy themselves rather than sit and watch telly.
Ben, Cardiff, UK

Haven't we heard this before? I seem to remember back in the 70s and 80s reports and studies warning that too much TV did children no good at all. I guess all this activity is keeping somebody in a job!
John B, Gloucester, UK

I have to admit that the content of some programmes makes me feel physically ill....
Roger K, Luton, UK

If so many local authorities hadn't sold off their school playing fields for easy money, or hadn't banned play-parks for fear of being sued over accidents, then children could have somewhere safe to exercise!
Peter Martin, UK

Reading could have a similar effect. This pointless study confuses correlation with causation. It is scary that so-called experts are using this study to try and introduce draconian measures which are completely unwarranted.
Tanveer, London

Children spend most of their waking hours in activities which don't, for the most part involve physical exercise David Anderson, Wakefield

Children spend most of their waking hours in activities which don't, for the most part, involve physical exercise. If their parents follow medical guidelines about bedtimes, they have relatively little free time. Television is a soft target. If there is a link between sedentary lifestyle and illness, we should also be looking at the length and content of the school day and the amount of homework set.
David Anderson, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

And what about people's mental health - children in particular should be learning, exploring, creating... not sitting goggle-eyed in front of hours of moronic programming a day.
Wendy, UK

We get fat and we don't have to think Ossi, Bristol

Television the modern sedative keeps our population firmly in its place. We get fat and we don't have to think. It is obvious that if you come home, sit down and do nothing else all evening except watch telly that it will have an effect on your health. Not to mention that you'll waste your life in a cloud of sit coms and soaps...
Ossi, Bristol, UK

You're here on this planet once. You're given a few brief years in amongst the infinite eons of time. And what do you do? Watch television.
Richie, UK

Friends of mine who grew up watching television cannot now as adults concentrate on a conversation if the television is on. I'm glad my parents encouraged me to be outside playing with my friends.
Mike, HK SAR

I am 68 and overweight, but I watch hardly any TV and have an active life. I am appalled by how much TV some children watch. I look after a 10-year old granddaughter every day after school, and ration her viewing, all tasks such as homework, piano practice etc have to be completed before she can play, read or watch television. But many of her classmates talk of adult programmes they watch all the time. I might add she is a very happy little girl.
Joanne Anderson, London

I am the father of four happy, healthy and active children - and we do not have a television. We took the decision to get rid of the TV years ago and have never looked back.
Keith, Bishops Stortford

Surely this report only shows that the kind of person who sit in front of the TV for hours is the same kind of person to smoke too much and exercise too little. That's not TV's fault.
Pete, Bristol, UK

I love these studies Fiona, Greenock

I love these studies. Next they should do one to see if there is any link between eating lots of cakes and obesity.
Fiona, Greenock

Let's not always blame TVs and computers, for they are not the only causes of cardiovascular illnesses of today's population. Healthier diet and more time invested in exercising will never allow TVs to weaken our hearts. After all, TVs do have a lot of good qualities in them.
Edward Park, Vancouver, Canada

Any health problems I had in the 70s were nothing to do with how much TV I watched. Of course plonking the kids in front of Cartoon Network all weekend isn't healthy but it depends whether the same adults complaining are also against the kids playing outside - and if their parents consider the street safe enough if their local youth centre's been closed.
Ken, England

How surprising! Sitting around watching TV is not as good for you as going for a walk, run, or down to the gym! And people get paid for researching this...
Andrew, Durham

Why not link an exercise bicycle to a dynamo, then the child can watch TV for as long as they like so long as they keep pedalling.
Duncan, Salisbury, UK

Yet another alarming report to state the obvious.
S Ross, Leeds

I don't think that the link is direct Mark Warriner, Sheffield

I don't think that the link is direct - the amount of TV watched just tends to be indicative of the overall activity levels of the people in this study. What it does show is that an inactive lifestyle is unhealthy in the long term.
Mark Warriner, Sheffield, UK

Of course there is a link between excessive sitting around doing nothing and cardiovascular illness. What did they expect? Lack of exercise in early years to be good for people?
Elizabeth, S Wales, UK

This report is misleading in its presentation of causality. Watching TV is not harmful, it's just that it is associated with the lack of other activities which promote good health. Sitting reading a book for four hours a night would lead to the same consequences.
Matt, Amsterdam, Netherlands (ex UK)

If you lead an active life with plenty of exercise I don't see how it can cause cardiovascular illness.
Chris, Blackpool, England

Television in the US is much better. I know because I used to sit most evenings and watch it. When I first moved here, I only had access to the basic five channels. It greatly encouraged me to get out and discover the real world again. After a year, not only is my life richer and more meaningful, I am also thinner. At this point, I think access to more channels would only stifle me.
Beth, London (US expat)

What difference is there between sitting in front of the telly for two hours or reading a book for two hours. I don't see anyone suggesting children read fewer books!
Alan Montague, Aylesbury

To Alan Montague, Aylesbury: How many children do you know of that read a book for at least two hours every day? At least reading would improve literacy, books don't have adverts that target children's pester power (which could save many parents a lot of grief) and encourage children to use their imagination - if a parent were to sit down and read a book to/with their child for at least two hours every day that would still have incredible benefits (more confidence, self esteem and family interaction which could teach them social skills) in comparison to leaving them in front of the box.
Elle, London, UK (formerly NZ)

I used to watch a fair bit as a youngster... but now at 30, I'm probably fitter than I was at 13, and television quality has got worse!
Christopher Teague, Wales

There must be, but people will have to want to change. As for me, I'd much rather go out and do drama and sing than watch it. For me nothing beats a personal involvement in something and meeting people.
Graham, Cobham, UK