Online psychology degree.net recently sent us an article detailing reasons extended TV watching is not good for our overall health. While you are probably aware of the following points, it seems like a good reminder for all of us to stay active, even as the days become shorter, and the air chillier. Here are some of their points:
Too much sitting – There is a strong link between life expectancy and sitting. We have blogged in the past about taking “activity breaks” from time spent in front of the computer. You can incorporate these breaks while watching an NFL football game today, or the Emmy awards tonight. Movement is the goal, though standing part of the time is better than sitting all of the time!
Junk Food – Ordering in Dominos Pizza after seeing a commercial for it is what the advertisers want us to do! Sometimes planning a meal ahead of time can help us to not only eat healthier – but may also let us feel good about what we eat!
Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature death – According to researchers at the Harvard Public School of Health, extended TV viewing can raise your risk for cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes, due to a sedentary lifestyle and poor eating habits.
Depression – Researchers at the Ohio State University believe the dim light given off by TV and computer screens during late-night viewing may be connected to clinical depression.
Violence – The average American child will have seen 200,000 violent acts on TV by the age of 18. There is a connection between televised violence and aggressive behavior in children. Parents and care-givers can make a difference by monitoring what children watch, and how much time they spend watching TV each day. There is a lot of quality programming on TV for kids – you may need to seek it out!
www.onlinepsychologydegree.net 9/23/12