Even if you’re active and exercise regularly, watching a lot of T.V. could still be negatively impacting your health. A recent study in the journal Medicine and Exercise in Sports and Science found that spending too much time in front of the T.V. could increase your risk of heart disease. The study analyzed subjects who exercised moderately or vigorously for at least 2.5 hours each week. Those women who watched 43 to 86 minutes of television each day had higher blood pressure and triglyceride levels than those who watched less. Although the results were consistent for both men and women, they were more significant for women. Researchers theorize that prolonged periods of sitting may switch off healthy processes such as the release of enzymes that break down fats in the blood. All the more reason to get off the couch, right? For a lot of people, watching T.V. is a trigger for other unhealthy behaviors, like snacking. It’s easy to sit down to your favorite program with a bag of chips, intending to eat just a few. By the end of the show, you’ve eaten the entire bag without even realizing. Or you come home at the end of a long day, planning to sit down for just a few minutes before heading to the gym. Three hours and three shows later, you’re still on the couch and no longer have the motivation to head out for a workout. This study helps reinforce what we’ve known for a long time. Although watching T.V. in moderation can be a good way to unwind, it’s important to limit your time in front of the tube. Here are some tips about how to Tune–In to a Healthier You. Do you find that too much T.V. derails your health and fitness goals? If you watch less T.V. than you used to, what kind of differences have you noticed- for both you and your family? |
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