Boston (SmartAboutHealth) - A new study has revealed that too much exposure to the mass media can do a great deal of harm to the health of children.

Researchers were led by Ezekiel J. Emanuel from the National Institute of Health.

Colleagues from the California Pacific Media Center, Common Sense Media, as well as Yale University also took part in the study.

On average, they found children spend 45 hours each week focusing on television, movies, magazines, music, Internet, video games, and cell phones.

This means that they are being exposed to the mass media a great deal.

On top of that, they found that in 80% of the 173 reports they looked at found, there was a link between exposure to media, and health issues.

The health issues varied, but were linked to obesity, sexual behavior, high use of tobacco, drugs, alcohol, etc.

Researchers want to push to raise awareness for parents, teachers, and other adults.

The hope is they can teach them how dangerous the mass media can be.