It's fairly obvious that watching television isn't a very healthy pastime. But Australian researchers have now calculated how much it can cut short your life.
Based on the lifestyle habits of 8,000 adults, the researchers estimated that each hour a day spent in front of a TV is associated with an 11 per cent increased risk of death from all causes; a 9 per cent increased risk of cancer death; and an 18 per cent increased risk of death related to cardiovascular disease.
The study's lead author, David Dunstan of the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Victoria, said the findings apply not only to individuals who are overweight and obese but those who have a healthy body weight. And although the study focused on watching TV, any prolonged sedentary activity – such as sitting at a desk or in front of a computer screen – takes a toll on health, he added. The study was published in the journal Circulation.