Thursday January 14, 11:18

An hour of TV per day increases the risk of dying younger

An hour of television per day increases the risk of dying younger

Each hour spent daily watching TV increases by 11% the risk of premature death and by 18% of dying from cardiovascular accident, says a major study published Tuesday.

This Australian study, published in Journal of the American Heart Association, examined the habits of 8800 people from 2000 to 2006. It shows that physical inactivity due to television watching has a negative influence on blood sugar and blood fat.

Whether you obese, overweight, or healthy, one hour of television a day leads to 11% of additional risk of dying prematurely, 9% of succumbing to cancer and 18% to a cardiovascular accident.

Those who watch television four hours a day increase their risk of premature death, whatever the cause, by 46% and cardiovascular disease fatalily by 80%.

"The human body is designed to move, not sit for long periods," said David Dunstan, study author and professor at the Diabetes Institute of Victoria in Australia.

"For many, the daily movements can be summarized as moving from one chair to another, from the vehicle seat to the chair in the office, sofa and television," added the professor.

Although the study has been conducted in Australia, Professor Dunstan believes that its findings also apply to the American public.

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