There is nothing new about the medical opinion that people who get little exercise are more likely to face health problems and even higher mortality than individuals who exercise frequently. It is also widely known that Americans spend dozens of hours a month in front of the TV set.
Australian researchers have connected the dots of a sedentary lifestyle and television addiction to prove that TV is a killer.
The Wall Street Journal reports “Australian researchers who tracked 8,800 people for an average of six years found that those who said they watched TV for more than four hours a day were 46% more likely to die of any cause and 80% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than people who reported spending less than two hours a day in front of the tube.” Even people who did exercise regularly seem to have their health undermined if they spend long periods of time in a seated position without much movement.
Of course, many medical experts believe that the benefits of exercise are overrated. Researchers have found that very long periods of physical exertion can damage the human immunity system. Running and other forms of aerobic exercise can cause joint and muscle trouble. Exercise can also cause heart attack or death in people with pre-existing heart conditions. Tennis elbows often require expensive surgery to repair.
TV may kill people, but at least they die doing something that they find entertaining.
Douglas A. McIntyre
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