Last update:
   11-Nov-2026
 

Arch Hellen Med, 44(1), January-February 2027, 32-38

ORIGINAL PAPER

The impact of television watching on preschool children's eating habits
A pilot study

V. Karavida
Early Years Learning and Care, School of Social Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of television viewing time on the development of eating habits among preschool children.

METHOD Fifty-six parents participated in the study. Quantitative analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics and Pearson's correlations to explore the relationships between television (TV) viewing duration, food consumption, and demographic factors.

RESULTS The findings revealed that increased TV viewing time correlated with unhealthy food consumption among preschool children. Most participants reported that advertising for sweets and candies significantly influenced their children's preferences for sugary products. A moderate positive correlation was observed between parental education levels and children's physical activity.

CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the dual role of TV in promoting both unhealthy eating behaviors and, in some contexts, healthier eating practices during family meals.

Key words: Advertising, Eating habits, Parent's education, Preschool children, TV watching.

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