TV is hurting your health!

TV is hurting you more than you think!

Spending hours at a time watching TV has become a lot more common nowadays, especially with watching the news and subscriptions to on-demand streaming services like Netflix and Hulu.

However, binge-watching can take a major toll on your health.  A recent study done by Netflix found that 61% of those surveyed said they often watch two to six episodes in one sitting.  

It is well known that there are health risks for remaining sedentary for long periods of time.  This can lead to weight gain and heart disease.  However, extended TV viewing also increases the likelihood for unhealthy behaviors like eating high-calorie snacks or drinks.

You begin to associate, subconsciously, to eat something while you watch tv.

Do you often have at least 1 snack when you watch TV?

Here are some Negative Impacts to our Health—

1-  Weight Gain and Obesity

Watching television has been linked to obesity for decades. One of the largest studies done, followed more than 50,000 middle-aged women for six years. The results found that for every two hours spent watching television per day, the participants had a 23 percent higher chance of becoming obese.

TV watching has been tied to obesity in all ages. Research shows that kids who have televisions in their bedrooms are more likely to be obese than those who do not. Prolonged TV watching may also have long-term effects.  If these habits are developed from a young age, it often follows the child all through life, increasing their risk of obesity in adulthood and midlife.

2-  Type 2 Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease

Viewing more than two hours of TV daily was linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease, and more than three hours of daily viewing increased the risk of premature death.  Cutting back on TV watching can significantly reduce chances of these risk factors. 

Why you might ask?

Because when you are watching TV, it is taking away from time that you should be exercising or keeping it moving!

Research has also shown that for each additional two hours of television watched per day, the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death increased by 20, 15, and 13 percent respectively.

3-  Premature Death

A study completed by the American Heart Association supported the findings regarding premature mortality. It found that adults who spend three or more hours a day in front of the television may double their risk of premature death. The increased risk was still apparent after accounting for age, gender, and lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, and diet.

4-  Colon Cancer

Watching too much television may impact survival rates for those with colon cancer.  A study was completed and the results found that patients who routinely watched five or more hours of television weekly before diagnosis had a 22 percent greater risk of dying from any cause than those who watched no more than two hours per week.

The study also found that individuals who spent seven or more hours a week participating in moderate to vigorous leisure activities like Grow Young Fitness Exercises, walking, golf, dancing, swimming, biking, tennis, and heavy gardening, were at a 20 percent lower risk of dying for any reason than those who engaged in no leisure activity.

So the next time you catch yourself binge-watching your favorite TV show, the news, or other programs, consider getting off the couch and getting your body moving! 

I challenge you: For every hour you spending watching TV, do the same amount of time exercising!

It is a win win!

You workout more… and you watch less TV!