Couch potatoes take note – time spent watching television is more harmful to your health than other sedentary activities such as reading or computer use. A study conducted by the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health has found that increased television screen time is linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure and obesity, while avid readers or computer users did not display this correlation.
One big factor is the unconscious habit of unhealthy snacking while watching television. “People don’t pay that much attention to what they are putting into their mouths,” said Associate Professor Rob Martinus van Dam, the study’s senior author. Instead, viewers should seek healthier alternatives such as fresh fruit, nuts or vegetables to munch on whilst watching television.
Media coverage:
- The Straits Times, 3 September 2013, Tuesday
- Lianhe Zaobao, 3 September 2013, Tuesday
- Today, 3 September 2013, Tuesday
- My Paper, 3 September 2013, Tuesday