TV watching poses health risk

[Michael]

No surprises here...

Researchers found that each hour a day spent watching TV was linked with an 18% greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, an 11% greater risk of all causes of death, and a 9% increased risk of death from cancer.

People who watched more than four hours a day showed an 80% greater risk of death from cardiovascular disease and a 46% higher risk of all causes of death compared with those who watched fewer than two hours a day, suggesting that being sedentary could have general deleterious effects. The numbers were the same after the researchers controlled for smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, an unhealthy diet and leisure-time exercise.

Source (http://www.latimes.com/news/health/la-sci-tv12-2010jan12,0,6667265.story)

[partofme]

Now I will feel like crap every time I post in the what are you watching thread.

[The Drunk Guy]

Now I will feel like crap every time I post in the what are you watching thread.
I feel like crap because I'm unhealthy. ;)

[Michael]

Now I will feel like crap every time I post in the what are you watching thread.

Sorry! :o

Perhaps if you jog over to the tv and get rid of that nasty remote thingie, it won't be so bad?

[Americano]

Sorry! :o

Perhaps if you jog over to the tv and get rid of that nasty remote thingie, it won't be so bad?

Aren't TV remotes considered sacred objects in many households?

[partofme]

Sorry! :o

Perhaps if you jog over to the tv and get rid of that nasty remote thingie, it won't be so bad?


I know it would be a good thing. I really don't watch as much as it seems. I have a DVR so I never channel surf or look for something when I don't have anything taped.

[Zarquon]

I watch barely 30 minutes of tv/a day (for news). I watch all movies/tv shows/videos/etc on my laptop(equally bad?).
Anyway, isn't this more of a correlation than a causation?
And what sort of an informed and active person can live without the internet and computers? I suppose the ill effects of that can be compensated through diet and exercise.
I make it a point to eat only at the dining table and not while watching something(the opposite is correlated with overeating).
And I was jogging 150 minutes/week till December, after which I stopped due to the chill. Hope to resume this or next week.

[Michael]

I watch barely 30 minutes of tv/a day (for news). I watch all movies/tv shows/videos/etc on my laptop(equally bad?).
If its on your lap, then it is probably far worse if you plan to have children. :lol:

Anyway, isn't this more of a correlation than a causation?
Tough call. Are lazy people attracted to tv or does tv turn people lazy? :shrug:

But the fact is (I believe) it is laziness (or lack of physical exercise) that is ultimately driving the negative health effects here.

And what sort of an informed and active person can live without the internet and computers? I suppose the ill effects of that can be compensated through diet and exercise.
I make it a point to eat only at the dining table and not while watching something(the opposite is correlated with overeating).
And I was jogging 150 minutes/week till December, after which I stopped due to the chill. Hope to resume this or next week.
Yes, I suppose if one seeks a better balance between passive tv/internet and physical activity, and eats well, then one should avoid the problem. Though, as the study shows, the vast majority of people don't actually do that.

[Zarquon]

If its on your lap, then it is probably far worse if you plan to have children. :lol:
Its on my desk; its actually gigantic desktop-replacement, and not particularly portable.

[drgoodtrips]

I wonder if the same thing would apply to general sedentary behavior (such as programming at a desk all day). Is there something specific about television?

[Michael]

I wonder if the same thing would apply to general sedentary behavior (such as programming at a desk all day). Is there something specific about television?
Hard to say. :ummm:

One is tempted to conclude that it is just plain sedentary behavior that is to blame for poor health, in which case, it shouldn't matter if one is sitting in front of a tv or sitting in front of a computer or sitting at a desk - the sedentary behavior is the same and the effects likely to be common.

But I'm not entirely certain of this. It would be nice to see some follow up study that looks at that question.