It has been claimed that watching top television shows such as ER, The Simpsons and Friends could be bad for your health.
A Dublin TD has claimed that the unhealthy lifestyles of the stars of the top shows are giving bad example to viewers.
Fianna Fail’s Martin Brady said recent research showed that 50 per cent of references to food in The Simpsons were to fats, sweets and alcohol.
He argued that in the programmes lose of weight is also associated with starvation.
The Deputy said even the doctors in ER were constantly snacking and showing bad example to viewers, especially children.
The TD wants parents to take greater control over the programmes their children watch.
But he said adults too must be made aware of the bad example shown by the television characters in an age when we must all look at our lifestyles and switch to healthy eating.