Parents who watch three hours of television a day could be affecting their children’s TV viewing habits for the next three decades, according to research from University College London.

The study shows that middle-aged ‘couch potatoes’ were likely to have had the habit planted in them as young as 10.

So should parents be rethinking slumping on the sofa for their daily TV fix for the sake of their children?

Allison Keating, a psychologist with bWell Clinic in Dublin, spoke to Lunchtime about the issue today and explained that we are looking at here is habitual behaviour.

She also stated that as a country we need to question our obesity levels: