(December 2, 2008 - Insidermedicine) From Washington - In an analysis of 173 studies, researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Yale University have found that spending too much time in front of the TV, playing video games, and surfing the Web increases the risk for many health problems among children. Overall, three-quarters of the studies found that increased media viewing was linked to negative health outcomes. One study in particular found that 3-year olds who spent more than 8 hours watching TV each week were more likely to be obese by age 7.

From the Netherlands - According to research in the Journal of the American College Of Cardiology, drug-eluting stents are more effective than the bare metal variety, even among diabetics. In a study of over 1,800 patients, including over 250 with diabetes, researchers found that those who received drug-eluting stents had half the risk of heart attack, stroke or death as those who received bare metal stents. The researchers note that coronary artery bypass graft surgery is still more effective at reducing the need for repeat procedures.

And finally, from France - According to research in the journal Sleep, smoking heavily during pregnancy increases the risk for developmental difficulties among preterm infants. In a study of 40 healthy preterm infants, researchers found that those who were born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy weighed less at birth by 11% if exposed to 10 or fewer cigarettes per day, and 21% if exposed to heavier smoking. It was also found that infants exposed to heavy smoking spent 18% less total time asleep.

For Insidermedicine in 60, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.