It has been revealed that if you watch television for three hours or more everyday, you are at risk of an early death.
A study led by Professor Miguel Martinez-Gonzalez, chair of the Department of Public Health at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, showed that the risk of premature death was twofold higher for those watching three or more hours of TV a day compared to those watching one hour or less.
“Television viewing is a major sedentary behaviour and there is an increasing trend toward all types of sedentary behaviours. Our findings are consistent with a range of previous studies where time spent watching television was linked to mortality,” the professor said.
However, the researchers were unable to find any connection between premature death and other activities like accessing the computer or driving, adding that more studies will be needed to determine the biological mechanisms that may be involved.
According to Prof Martinez-Gonzalez their findings suggest that adults may consider increasing their physical activity, avoid long sedentary periods, and reduce television watching to no longer than one to two hours each day as sedentary behaviours, especially watching television poses an additional burden on the increased health problems related to aging.
