Policy Opportunities for Addressing Sedentary Behavior in Clinical Settings

Action steps regarding media include:

Limit use of televisions in practice and hospital waiting rooms.
Exposure to screen time is linked to sedentary lifestyle and where possible clinics and hospitals should be promoting healthy alternatives to screen time for healthy patients.

Recommended by :

• AAP Policy: Expert Committee Recommendations Regarding the Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity: Summary Report
• AAP Policy: Children, Adolescent and Television
• Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Policies

Know about community before- and after-school programs as well as local recreational activities that can serve as alternatives to screen time.
Understanding the availability of affordable and quality before- and after-school programs and recreation opportunities will improve your ability to counsel patients and their families on healthy active living.

Recommended by:

• AAP Policy: Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity Through Increased Physical Activity
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
• Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Local Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity

For more information:

• Afterschool.gov