Each hour spent in front of television would lead to an 11% increase in the risk of premature death from various causes for this type of person, and a 9% increase in the risk of dying from cancer.
One hour of television would also lead to an 18% increase in the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease for this type of person.
This could be explained because the prolonged periods when the body is in a sitting position would have a bad influence on the levels of sugar and fat in the blood.
The researchers studied the habits of 8,800 adults. They found that people who watch television more than four hours a day were 46% more likely than those who watch television less than two hours a day of dying from any cause.
These people are 80% more likely than those who watch television two hours a day of dying from cardiovascular disease. This additional risk exists apart from potential aggravating factors, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high weight.
Even though the researchers focused on the activity of watching television, the results indicate that all sitting activities can lead to these kinds of health risks.
These are valid for overweight or obese people, but also, to a lesser extent, for people in good physical shape. Sitting for a long time would in any case have a bad influence on the level of sugar and fat in the blood.
The researchers interviewed 3,846 men and 4,954 women aged 25 and over for this study, who underwent glucose tolerance tests and provided the researchers with blood samples. In this way, they were able to calculate the cholesterol and the blood sugar level.
The participants in this study were followed between the years 1999-2000 and up to 2006.
Source: www.circ.ahajournals.org
