TV increases risk of dying

Samantha Bushell walks pet dog Kiki to counter the affects of watching television and sitting at work.

Liam Butterworth

WATCHING television has become one of Australia’s favourite pastimes, but every hour spent in front of the box may just be killing us.

A six-year study of the lifestyle habits of 8800 Australians showed each hour spent watching television was associated with an 11 per cent increased risk of death from all causes.

According to the study, which was completed by researchers at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Victoria, people who watch more than four hours of television had a 46 per cent higher risk of death from all causes and an 80 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

And while the research was focused on television, lead author of the study David Dunstan said sitting in front of a desk or a computer may also pose a health risk.

“Technological, social, and economic changes mean that people don’t move their muscles as much as they used to – consequently the levels of energy expenditure as people go about their lives continue to shrink.

The risk didn’t just apply to obese or overweight people, but also applied to those with healthy weight, and the study recommended people get regular exercise.

“In addition to doing regular exercise, avoid sitting for prolonged periods and keep in mind to ‘move more, more often’. Too much sitting is bad for health.”

Samantha Bushell, who is visiting Boyne Island, said she watched one to two hours a day, and wouldn’t be deterred from watching television.

Ms Bushell agreed the lifestyle changes where people sat more were contributing to Australia’s obesity rate.

Ms Bushell said she walked her pet dog twice daily to counter the affects of working in an office and watching television.

She said the study shouldn’t be trying to scare people off television, but should be encouraging people to live a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet.