Mar 28, 2014 12:44 PM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Children who park themselves in front of the television for more than two hours each day after school are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, according to a recent study.

Researchers found that children who watch more than two hours of television every day are more likely to consume junk food and have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, even compared to those who spend an equal amount of time on the computer or playing video games.

Based on their findings, sixth-graders who reported watching between two and six hours of television a day were more likely to have a body mass index and slower recovery heart rate compared with those reporting low screen time or kids who had comparable computer or video game use.

"While too much of both types of screen time encourages sedentary behavior, our study suggests high TV time in particular is associated with poorer food choices and increased cardiovascular risk," Elizabeth Jackson, senior author of the study, said in a statement.

For the study, researchers collected data from more than 1,000 sixth graders from 24 middle schools participating in Project Healthy schools across five diverse communities in Southeast Michigan.

They gave study participants standardized questionnaires to collect information about health behaviors including the type and frequency of screen time, snacking habits, and food and beverage choices in the last 24 hours. Researchers also assessed physiological measurements, including blood pressure, cholesterol, height and weight.

They found that kids who spent more time in front of a screen -- regardless of the type -- snack more frequently and are more likely to choose less healthy snacks. Jackson said this is likely because these kids are bombarded by television commercials that tend to reinforce less healthy foods.

"Snacks are important, and choosing a piece of fruit rather than a bag of chips can make a really big difference for one's health," Jackson said. "Parents need to monitor their kids' activities. Our results offer even more reason to limit the amount of TV time kids have and are right in line with current recommendations."

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting entertainment screen time to less than one or two hours per day.

The research was presented at the American College of Cardiology's 63rd Annual Scientific Session.

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