Researchers have found that adolescents who have a bedroom television are less likely to engage in healthy activities such as exercising, eating fruits or vegetables, and participating in family meals. They also read and study less, and eat more sweetened beverages and fast food.

A study group of nearly 800 teens reported on their television viewing habits, study habits, grades, diet, exercise habits, and family connectedness. Nearly two-thirds of the participants had a television in their bedroom or sleeping area. Those who did watched four to five more hours of television each week than their peers.

The first step parents can take to help their teens decrease unhealthy behaviors is to remove the TV from that teen’s bedroom.