Sitting in front of the TV seems like a pretty harmless thing but in reality it poses several severe risks to one's health.
An article from US News and World Report that was reposted by the Huffington Post details 9 ways that camping out on your couch to watch your favorite show can lead to rapid weight gain, shifts in emotion, and diabetes. Here are some of the noteworthy discoveries.
The list says that people who watch more TV are more likely to develop diabetes. It cites this academic journal, which says that each hour spent watching TV per day increases the chance of getting diabetes by 3.4 percent.
'...in all treatment arms, individuals with lower levels of sedentary time had a lower risk of developing diabetes. Future lifestyle intervention programmes should emphasize reducing television watching and other sedentary behaviours in addition to increasing physical activity.' Says the study.
The content shown on TV can also have an adverse effect on one's emotional state. The article says that the violent images readily available for viewing on the television can desensitize children and make them more accepting towards such acts in real life. Kids exposed to high amounts of TV violence are more likely to have aggressive personalities once they grow older.
The TV's portrayal of romance and relationships can also warp one's expectations. The article says that: 'the more you believe in popular portrayals of romance on television, the less committed you may be to your real relationship.'
Other points on the list cover some of the more widely accepted negative effects of TV watching. You don't need an extensive study to tell you that binge watching Game of Thrones all-night will leave you tired the next day but we should be reminded nevertheless.
To see the other fascinating facts, check out the full article.
