September 6, 2011 – Every hour spent watching TV would reduce life expectancy by 20 minutes after the age of 25.
Thus, adults who watch TV 6 hours a day on average see their lifespan reduced by 5 years, compared to those who do not watch it.
These are the results of an Australian study1 who compared the time spent watching TV and longevity. To do this, the researchers analyzed data from a major national survey on diabetes, obesity and lifestyle.2.
Researchers have found that the time Australians spend on the small screen decreases the life expectancy of men by almost 2 years and a year and a half for women, compared to the estimated life expectancy at birth. .
According to the authors, the impact of watching TV as a sedentary activity is such that it compares to risk factors such as smoking and lack of physical activity. Like them, TV is directly associated with the increased risk of death from cardiovascular events.
Also, the researchers report that even if they worked from national sources, these results are likely to be the same in most Western countries.
Claudia Morissette – HealthPassport.net
1. Veerman, JL, Healy, GN et al. “Television viewing time and reduced life expectancy: a life table analysis”, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2011, published online 15 August 2011
2. The investigation AusDiab follows more than 11,000 adults, over the age of 25, since 1999. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics was also used.
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