Released April 13, 2009
BOZEMAN, Mont. – A program designed to prevent and control obesity in Montana is encouraging people to turn off their televisions during Screen Free Week, set for April 20-26.
Screen Free Week is a coordinated effort worldwide to encourage people to turn off their TVs, computers and electronic games for seven days, while simultaneously tuning in to the world around them.
The goal of the week is to help families better understand the role recreational screen time plays in their lives and to promote healthier alternatives, according to Cathy Costakis, physical activity coordinator for the Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program (NAPA), the group that is coordinating Montana's part of the weeklong campaign.
"Reducing our screen time exposure can help improve literacy, reduce the risk of developing obesity and encourage healthier habits," Costakis said.
On average, kids between the ages of 8 and 18 spend nearly four hours every day watching TV, videos, DVDs and prerecorded shows, according to a 2008 Kaiser Family Foundation report. Children also spend an average of just more than one hour on the computer and 50 minutes playing video games every day.
Local public health agencies, Extension offices, schools, libraries, parks and recreation departments and other organizations across Montana are working together to raise awareness of the issue, Costakis said. Mayoral proclamations and school board resolutions in support of Screen Free Week are being passed in towns such as Scobey, Sidney, Three Forks and Bozeman. Community partners in Bozeman and Missoula are sponsoring a variety of activities during the week, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) offices, Head Start programs and child care centers cross the state will emphasize the importance of reducing screen time to promote healthy child development, Costakis said. In Great Falls, school district and public health officials will offer students incentives to compete for the most screen-free activities.
The Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program (NAPA) is funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and is located at Montana State University in Bozeman.
Screen Free Week is coordinated internationally by the Center for SCREEN-TIME Awareness, a nonprofit organization that empowers people to take control of the electronic media in their lives, reduce overall screen-time and promote healthier lives and more vibrant communities. For more information about the campaign, visit http://www.screentime.org. To find out how to get involved locally with the Montana initiative or to access resources related to reducing screen time, contact Cathy Costakis at (406) 994-5734 or visit http://www.montananapa.org/tvscreen.html.
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http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=7085
Contact: Cathy Costakis, (406) 994-5374, costakis@montana.edu
