The more TV we watch, the shorter our lives will be …

[22 February 2010 - 14h43]

According to an Australian study, the risk of death from cardiovascular disease increases by around 20% for each hour per day we spend in front of the television. So, the resulting sedentary lifestyle is definitely not the best option when it comes to health…

If we spend more than four hours a day watching television, the risk of death from heart disease appears to increase by 80%. Which is far from insignificant if we consider that the French as a nation spend an average of 3 hours a day in front of the TV. The human body was designed for movement not for sitting, and certainly not for several hours at a time, the author of this report points out.

There will of course be those who challenge this dogmatic statement. Remember how 100 years ago, the early opponents of the railways claimed that the human body was not made to tolerate the speeds reached by the “iron horse”...? However, despite all this, the results of this survey remain constant and are quite independent of other cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and obesity. Even if you are a reasonable weight and have a very healthy lifestyle, staying seated for long periods can very often have serious consequences on the glucose and fat levels in your blood.

In 2008, an American study had already reported on the health risks associated with teenagers having television sets in their bedrooms. Quite apart from the impact on family life, the young people concerned appeared to turn their backs on sport and exercise and eat a lot more fatty, salty, sweet foods…

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