Report: Watching TV is Killing You
- Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:13am by
Liz Klimas
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Two recently released studies tell us what we already know, that we should reduce TV watching hours and get in a little more exercise. But these studies equate just how much you can add or subtract to your lifespan with TV and exercise habits.
TV is harmful in more than one way. Each hour of TV watching can take 22 minutes from one's life, while 15 minutes of light activity per day can help increase lifespans. (TV by the Numbers)
A study from the University of Queensland estimates that 22 minutes are shaved off the average adult’s expected lifespan per hour of TV watched per day. So if you watched TV from the moment you got home from work at 6 p.m. to midnight (six hours) every day, could shave off five years from your life.
As reported by International Business Times, the researchers used data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle study, which has evaluated the TV watching habits of more than 11,000 adults over 25 years since 1999. They then compared viewing times to mortality rates.
The researchers say that watching TV is among the most common forms of sedentary behavior. Studies suggest that sedentary behavior is linked to obesity, high levels of blood fats and other heart disease risk factors.
While people should watch TV for the news and for entertainment, too much TV viewing is not good and people need to find alternative light activities, [lead researcher Lennert] Veerman told [the Australian Associated Press].
“They should watch the news and keep themselves informed, but if in the rest of their lives they are pretty active, I wouldn’t tell them not to watch a movie,” he said.
In contrast, a study reported by U.S. News found that even low activity for 15 minutes a day can be beneficial. Of the 400,000 people in Tiawan whose habits were tracked for eight years, those who reported even low activity, compared to those in the inactive category, were 14 percent less likely to die from any cause and added about three more years to their life.
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Comments (95)
wewantchillywilly
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:05pmI told you Jersey Shore is killing the youth.
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:10pmMakes you wonder about all the gyms that have tv’s mounted above the treadmills?
Report Post »pscully17
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:02pmAre you sure that the underlying health problems of being fat, lazy and unable to excersise, lead to more tv watching? Im guessing those that cant get out of their hosue or run around the yard, already have a foot in the grave, regardless of their TV watching habbits. chicken and the egg theory…
Report Post »Diva86
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:01pmWell, all I have to say is that Obamacare will kill you even at a FASTER RATE!!!
Report Post »Blazer123
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:00pmIt has also been shown that homicide rates increase as ice cream sales increase. Ice Cream makes people murderers!!!
Report Post »NEMATIC
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:55amI get all my excercise at work!
Report Post »affinnity
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:54amWhy aren’t Liberals ever happy about anything?
Report Post »junkmaninohio
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:45amActually the commercials are killing me. Too many commercials.
Report Post »Centralsville
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:56amBetter to digitally record your shows and skip the commercials. DVR’s are great for that.
Report Post »loadingmyclips
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 3:13pmFlashmobs will kill you also
Report Post »Centralsville
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:41amIt’s funny, the people I know that lived the longest weren’t the people out there exercising and working the hardest. They were the people that sat in their living rooms watching television. Many of them smoked and were overweight. Don’t believe anything the “experts” tell you about longevity. I saw a study last week saying it was in your genes.
Report Post »Edward
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:50amI have to agree with that too. There‘s just as many stories of smokers living well into there 80’s and 90′s having no problems. Smoking just increases the chances of getting certain diseases, it doesnt guarentee your going to get them. I just dont think people need to live their lives scared to death of doing something that will hurt them. These hormone injected foods are a bigger problem imo than someone’s personal vices.
Report Post »pscully17
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:03pmIve hered Diarhea is hereditary too, it also runs in your jeans
Report Post »panz
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:40amI have been watching TV for nearly 60 years. Bull!
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:56amMom lived to 92 and watched a lot of TV over the years was she supposed to live to 150 ? A life cut short. So sad.
Report Post »Jeff f.
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:39amHere is a headline they could have easily have substituted in this story.
Report: Reading Books is killing you!
or
Report: Eating Breakfast is killing you!
or
Report: Working at a desk is killing you!
Report Post »loadingmyclips
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 3:13pmislamic jihadists are killing you too!
Report Post »Seede
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:35amOh My ! Here I am near on ninety and been cutting my days shorter by leaps and bounds. Now how in the world would anyone make that statement without some type of yardstick? So they get their facts from studying the diabetic and obesity and lifestyle study of Australia. I would think that diabetes and obesity should be more of a factor than TV.
Report Post »angelcat
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:33amAccording to this, I should have been dead about 5 years agol. Oh well, next year a new study will find that watching TV extends your life. I”ll believe that one. I read voraciously and watch TV, so I must be writing this from my grave.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:33amSo thats why I’ve been feeling like crap lately…Too much boob tube.
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:32amI wish the nanny state would just disappear..
EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!!
Think for yourself, take responsibility for yourself, and don’t blame others and complain when your lifestyle choices catch up to you… That’s called being an adult!
Report Post »NJTMATO
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:32amPUHLEEESE! Wonder how much that study cost?! Ha!!! I don’t watch a lot of TV because frankly, there isn‘t that much on that’s any good. But, if you want to watch a lot of it and find something you like to watch or scream at, GREAT! Holy cow, they just want to continue to scare the crap out of us and tell us that things we enjoy are going to kill us. Soon, they’ll be telling us that even if we drive a green car, it will be the end of us…just live with God‘s grace in your heart and you’ll be just fine, you‘ll die when you’re supposed to, not a minute too soon or a minute too late.
Report Post »OniKaze
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:30amI wish the nanny mentality would just disappear.. EVERYTHING is bad for you is you do not practice moderation… Drinking water can kill you if you do it too much, there have been a few studies that show people who constantly exercise (however physically fit they become) tend to wear their heart out faster and die at younger ages.. I am not saying give up exercise, or laziness, but practice all in moderation.. Too much of anything is just that, Too Much!!
Think for yourself, take responsibility for yourself, and don’t gripe to others when your lifestyle choices catch up to you later… That’s called being an adult…
Report Post »MODEL82A1
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:29amWhat effect does staring at a computer monitor displaying an internet Comment Site @20 hrs. per day have on life expectancy? I guess many of you will find out.
Report Post »affinnity
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:50amSince your reading our comments you’ll find out too.
Report Post »Brizz
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 1:12pm20 hrs a day? Wonder what they are paying you to be here.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:27amIf you watch MSNBC you die from a brain tumor brought on by illogical thoughts being spewed.
Report Post »Soldier_FORTHERECORD
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:32amConcur completely… in fact I was going to say watching MSM can shorten your life considerably.
Report Post »TheDebtWeAllPay
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:27amthe world is coming to an end when a tv can kill you without dropping on ur head
Report Post »beckNcall
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:25amSo america drop that remote and get up off your backside, walk, go to the gym do something besides watch TV……..
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:25amDoes jumping up and down plus screaming at the tv during a football game count as “low level activity”?
Report Post »edcoil
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:28amCounts as a good day to me!
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 12:00pmdepends on if your team is winning or losing….if they’re losing I believe it moves up into the moderate level activity…at least in my house it does
Report Post »Centralsville
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:23amI exercise while watching television. I also reload while watching television. Television is my window to the world. I love my television and wouldn’t want to live without it. It is a window without the boundaries of distance and time. I can go everywhere while staying in my living room.
Report Post »beckNcall
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:23amSo waddle your fat rump out and get some exercise…………drop that remote America and get fit!
Report Post »drattastic
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:23amThis is ridiculous ,none of us would live past the age of 10. It’s becoming more evident that genetics have more to do with a long life than any other factor. Granted if your 100lbs overweight ,smoke and drink to excess your probably going to drop dead prematurely but watching TV taking X amount of minutes off your life ,******* please.
Report Post »AlansTigg
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:16amwhat if you watch tv while exercising??
Report Post »Cerealface
Posted on August 16, 2011 at 11:26amAnother study came out and said 15 mins of exercise a day can extend life by three days!
Report Post »Watching tv while exercising? Win win!