Mashing the 'couch potato'

In the midst of increased interest about childhood overweight and obesity, the term 'couch potato' has become ubiquitous. This paper argues that the idea that many children have become 'couch potatoes' - addicted to technology and therefore less likely to be physically active - is mistaken, misleading and ideological. The paper suggests that there is little empirical support for the idea that televisions and computers play a role in childhood overweight and obesity, and that concern about 'couch potatoes' actually serves to distract us from far more important considerations, The paper concludes by discussing the ideological dimensions of the concept of the 'couch potato'.