CHILDREN who eat in front of a TV or iPad are more likely to be obese, a study found.
Experts said screens distract children from feeling full so they end up eating more.
The University of Minho in Portugal looked at 735 young pupils and found screen time at meals increased the chance of a large waist by 15 per cent.
UK figures show 91 per cent of children now own a smartphone by the age of 11 and kids and teens spend two to four hours online per day.
Ofcom says under-16s watch about five hours of TV per week.
Almost 40 per cent of children are overweight or obese by the time they finish primary school.
Study author Dr Ana Duarte, from the University of Minho in Portugal, said: “When children are eating and watching something on a TV or a mobile phone, they don’t understand when they need to stop eating or when they are full.
“They continue to eat and eat just because they are distracted by the screens.
“This is bad for society and dangerous for children because it is leading to them being overweight or obese.”
Tam Fry, chairman of the Child Growth Foundation, said: “Family meals are fast becoming a distant memory.
“It’s clear that letting children mindlessly graze whilst networking or slumped in front of the telly is damaging their health.”
