Canadian kids spend 42 hours a week at TV, computer

TORONTO (Reuters Life!) - Canadian children get a failing grade when it comes to physical activity, according to an annual report on children's health.

Too much time in front of the television, computer and playing video games are to blame for the "disturbing" 90 percent of children and youth who are not meeting recommended levels of exercise, according to the 2008 Report Card on Physical Activity by charity group Active Healthy Kids Canada and its partners.

"The results of the report card are very disturbing," said Dr. Mark Tremblay, Healthy Kids Canada's chief scientific officer. "This trend of extreme inactivity in today's children and youth will have an enormous impact on their development and potentially lead to long-term health issues."

The report found that 10- to 16-year-old children were spending about six hours a day or 42 hours a week in front of a screen, adding up to more than a parent's typical work week.

The report said children need to "unplug", recommended reducing "screen time", and replacing "active" video games with more physical activity.

The report card, which grades a variety of categories, gave Canada an overall "D" for not providing enough exercise opportunities and programs for children and youth.

"Becoming physically active does not have to be difficult. Children simply have to be encouraged and supported to move more in all aspects of their day," Kelly Murumets, chief executive of partnering organization ParticipACTION, said in a release. (For the full report, go to www.activehealthykids.ca)

(Reporting by Solarina Ho; editing by Peter Galloway)