Sedentary Behavior Increases Diabetes Risk
Sitting around for long periods of time isn’t very good for you, but watching television seems to be one of the worst types of sitting around. A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association has shown that watching two hours of television per day can cause a 14 percent increase in the risk of diabetes and a 23 percent increase in obesity.
Watching television is worse than other sedentary activities, such as playing cards, driving or reading. It lowers your metabolic rate and causes your body to put on weight.
The study participants, part of the long-term Nurses’ Health Study, also ate a lot of high-calorie foods that are associated with an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes.
The answer seems simple: if you’re watching two or more hours of television per day, try to stop. Or do other things while you’re watching—exercise, housework, etc.
Journal of the American Medical Association, 9 April 2003