Eating dinner in front of the TV or iPad makes children more likely to be obese, hard-hitting study finds

CHILDREN who eat in front of a TV or iPad are more likely to be obese, a study has found.

Experts say that screens distract children from feeling full and end up eating more.

The University of Minho in Portugal analyzed 735 young students and found that screen time during meals increased the likelihood of having a large waist by 15 percent.

Figures from the UK show that 91 per cent of children already own a smartphone by the age of 11 and that children and teenagers spend two to four hours online a day.

Ofcom says under-16s watch around five hours of TV a week.

Almost 40 percent of children are overweight or obese by the time they finish primary school.

Study author Dr Ana Duarte, from the University of Minho in Portugal, said: “When children are eating and watching something on TV or on their cell phone, they don’t understand when they need to stop eating or when they are full.

“They keep eating and eating just because they are distracted by screens.

“This is bad for society and dangerous for children because it leads to them becoming overweight or obese.”

Tam Fry, chair of the Child Growth Foundation, said: “Family meals are fast becoming a distant memory.

“It’s clear that letting children graze carelessly while networking or sitting in front of the television is harming their health.”