Watching too much television linked to 8 leading causes of deaths in US

[webfact]

Watching too much television linked to 8 leading causes of deaths in US
Lee Min Kok
The Straights Times
Asia News Network

(ANN) Couch potatoes take note - a new study has linked prolonged television viewing to eight leading causes of death in the United States.

The research, published in the December issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, confirmed that more hours spent watching TV increases the risk of death from major causes such as cancer and heart disease.

According to the study, those who watch three to four hours of TV per day were 15 per cent more likely to die from any cause compared to those who spent less than an hour watching TV.

The risk for those who watch seven or more hours per day increased to 47 per cent over the study period, with overall risk increasing from the three- to four-hour-a-day mark.

Investigators also identified new links with other leading causes of death like diabetes, influenza, Parkinson’s disease and liver disease.

On average, 80 per cent of American adults watch at least 3 1/2 hours of TV per day, with multiple observational studies demonstrating that TV viewing leads to poorer health.

Ninety-two percent of Americans own a TV at home, with TV viewing consuming more that half their available leisure time.

In the study, researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) looked at more than 221,000 people aged between 50 and 71, who were free of chronic disease at study entry.

Dr Sarah Keadle, the lead investigator of the study, said results "fit within a growing body of research indicating that too much sitting can have many different adverse health effects".

"We know that TV viewing is the most prevalent leisure-time sedentary behaviour and our working hypothesis is that it is an indicator of overall physical inactivity," added Dr Keadle, a cancer prevention fellow at NCI.

But she did caution that while each of the associations observed have plausible biological mechanisms, several were being reported for the first time and additional research would be needed to replicate the findings.

One important finding was that the detrimental effects of TV viewing impacts both active and inactive individuals - the study found that exercise did not totally eliminate risks associated with prolonged TV viewing.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Watching-too-much-television-linked-to-8-leading-c-30271782.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-28

[swissie]

It's the economy, stupid! (=Bill Clinton).

It's the programming, stupid! (=Me).

Witch pharmaceutical company has sponsored/financed this "study"?

Cheers.

[Kasset Tak]

Yea, I guess to many of us spend to much time here on TV, so I will go and watch a movie on the television instead...

[WitawatWatawit]

Quote: "One important finding was that the detrimental effects of TV viewing impacts both active and inactive individuals - the study found that exercise did not totally eliminate risks associated with prolonged TV viewing."

Pretty much mirrors what the latest research is finding about the Mediterranean diet - that it's the lifestyle inasmuch as the diet that is beneficial.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/10/22/the-mediterranean-diet-is-it-the-food-or-the-lifestyle/?_r=0

[blazes]

I am not sure of the exact figures, but I would suspect that close to 100% of those who watch Fox channels for even a short time have their brains rapidly turn to cottage cheese.

[northernphil]

Yep my TW says I spend too long here on TV but at least I don't watch TV soaps. That is plain suicidal.

[chilli42]

Its quite clear, sitting on your backside hour after hour leads to health issues and an early death. Not sure why they needed a study to confirm this.

[freebyrd]

There's a new one every day. I wonder if these people wake up each morning and think "How can I p*ss the world off today?"

I reckon I'll spend the weekend watching TV and eating processed meat while my endorphins and free radicals do battle.

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

then I am a gonner!!!

[Krataiboy]

If you've only got Thai cable, the biggest risk is death from boredom.

[Seastallion]

A sedentary lifestyle leads to greater risk of death from certain diseases.

Really? Wow! This is NEWS! Nobody has ever thought to link being a couch potato to early onset of heart disease. Nobody has ever said that the more you excersise the more your health improves.

Money well spent on this revelatory study.

[HughJass]

its not so much the effects it has on their body that bothers me, thats their choice

its the content of the programming which includes brainwashing people and surreptitiously moulding their views and opinions

to suit the aims and objectives of the coming New World Order

try googling who owns the the US mainstream media and Hollywood

"To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize." Voltaire

[Seastallion]

I am not sure of the exact figures, but I would suspect that close to 100% of those who watch Fox channels for even a short time have their brains rapidly turn to cottage cheese.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

[Berkshire]

One of these days, someone will compile all of these research reports and conclude that every single thing that we do in life will lead to premature death. Perhaps then, we can go on with our lives and not worry so much because none of it matters.

[farangmick]

A new report, that I am about to write, states that, "Watching Thai soaps and game shows is a major cause of suicide among farang trying to please their wives by finding some shared interests".

[Chicog]

But surely they have a commensurately lower risk of being run over by a bus or hit by a falling coconut.

[ggt]

While keeping one eye on US News on TV...the other on my computer screen reading TVF...the results of which according to this study...I should die twice as quickly as just regular TV watchers...

I feel certain that is a pleasing thought to some of you...

[ozyjon]

I'm watching TV right now

i have my laptop / notebook

connected to my TV through

a HDMI cable and i use a

wireless mouse and type with

the on screen keyboard, i am

going to die, bye, eat pie guy.

[spidermike007]

It is not watching too much TV that kills. It is watching even one hour a day of completely debased reality TV, that strips the heart and soul of its purity, and kills the human spirit.

It is possible Thai and US soap operas fall into that same category.

Edited October 31, 2015 by spidermike007