Sir: Television was invented in the early 20th century. Since then, it has become an important part of our lives. According to research conducted in 2013, 79 percent of the world’s households owned a television set. Television has changed the way families used to live in their homes. Television is undoubtedly a good source of entertainment but it also carries some disadvantages. Before the invention of television, all family members used to eat dinner together at night. They used to chat and discuss daily matters but now many families remain glued to their television sets, and the sharing of thoughts and ideas has become a thing of the past. Even youngsters spend up to six hours a day in front of television. A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has claimed that spending too much time watching television results in more time for eating snacks and leads to overeating. Due to the habit of watching television while eating, the rate of obesity among adolescents has doubled over the past 15 years. Another study carried out by the University of Rhode Island found that prolonged television watching decreases viewers’ sense of self-efficacy in maintaining personal health. In a nutshell, we need to maintain a balance between the watching of television and other healthy activities. SYEDA UNZELA MUSHTAQUE Karachi