Childhood obesity is on the rise but routine activities like eating dinner together, limiting hours of watching television and getting adequate sleep can lower down the risk of childhood obesity, according to a new study published in the journal Pediatrics.

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi conducted a survey on children aged between 14 and 18 and reported that of the 2000 children studied, 17 percent were obese or overweight. Obesity in children is usually a result of the sedentary lifestyle, improper food habits and lack of physical activity. This may result in the child growing up to become an obese adult.

Obesity is one of the leading causes of many disorders like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and sleep disorders.

The researchers from Ohio State University and Temple University examined the link between childhood obesity among preschool children with three household activities-- limited hours of television, adequate sleep hours and having dinner together with family members.

It was found that four year old children who are involved in all these activities were almost 40 percent lower risk of having obesity compared to children who were not involved in any of these.

Ensuring regular routines of having meals together, going to sleep at a definite time and limiting the TV time can reduce risks of obesity in children. Also involvement in physical activity and to eat healthy food should also be initiated by the family members.