No-Nonsense Device Weans Kids' TV and Computer Use and Fights Weight

Hogwash.

"Reducing kids' TV and computer consumption with the aid of an electric governor that is impervious to pleading and wheedling may help overweight children shed pounds, researchers here said.

There were modest reductions in body mass index over two years among children in homes with a device placed on all television and computer monitors to gradually and automatically squeeze use by 50%, according to findings in the March issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine."

How modest?

"Age- and sex-standardized BMI decreased significantly in the intervention group compared with the control group, although the reductions were modest (−0.24 versus −0.13, P=0.02 from baseline to six months and P=0.03 from baseline to 12 months, P<0.05>"

Very, very modest.

Possibly not even worth the cost modest.

"Although the effects on BMI were modest in the study, Dr. Epstein and colleagues said, 'a small effect of this simple and inexpensive intervention (approximately $100 for each TV Allowance) magnified across the population may produce important reductions in the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related comorbidities.'"

Don't bet on it.