Poor TV Habits Can Increase Diabetes Risks

In the latest “duh” news, results of a recent study found that prolonged TV viewing was associated with increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and premature death.

While it’s not surprising that being a couch potato isn’t exactly good for your health, Dr. Frank Hu of the Harvard School of Public Health and his colleagues precisely calculated for the first time how much the passive act of TV watching actually contributes to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and all-cause mortality.

According to the analysis, the researchers found that for every two hours of ‘tube time,’ the risk of Type 2 diabetes increased by 20%, the risk of heart disease increased by 15%, and the risk of death during the follow-up period increased by 13%.

Another point that researches brought up was that individuals with poor TV watching habits tend to eat high-fat foods, drink beverages that are high in sugar, and skip out on physical activity during their viewing time.

So what is the solution?

According to Hu, “The message is simple. Cutting back on TV watching can significantly reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and premature mortality. We should not only promote increasing physical activity levels but also reduce sedentary behaviors, especially prolonged TV watching.”