Too Much TV Ups Heart Risks. Or: What Lost Does to Me.
photo by just luh.
You all had some great insight into yesterday’s discussion about kids’ chronic snacking. If you didn’t get a chance to read it, check it out here and leave your thoughts. I think going forward with the rising rates of obesity, the topic of emotional eating versus eating for hunger is going to continue being a big issue.
A couple people mentioned the fact that kids today are also moving less. That’s a whole other problem, but they go hand in hand, right? Well today I read about a study on our lack of movement. (Nope, this trial didn’t involve kids, but you can see how it could apply to the video game generation, too.)
I understand the irony of what I’m about to say seeing as I’m hooked on five—count ’em: five—TV shows. (If you’re curious, they’re Lost, 24, Fringe, Bones, and Heroes in that order.) Anyhow, turns out twenty- and thirtysomethings who watch more TV are more likely to develop risk factors for heart disease by the time they hit their 40s.
What’s Exercise Got to do With It?
Of course, my first reaction was, Well at least I exercise. That’s got to count for something, right? Um, no. According to the study, which was presented at an American Heart Association conference yesterday, there’s still a link between risk factors for heart disease (such as high cholesterol, BMI and blood pressure) and TV time even when amount of physical activity is taken into consideration. The researchers say the harm done by sitting on your bum and zoning out to the tube can’t be reversed with exercise.
photo by laverrue
Even monkeys love Lost. Look at that little thumb!
There’s another down side: Watching TV ups your chances of eating a high-calorie diet and flat-out unhealthy foods. Add to that the fact that sitting in front of the television is just an extension of the sitting we do all day, and it becomes clearer why those glued to the tube ended up worse off.
The study makes sense to me, but I don’t quite understand why exercise doesn’t reverse the risk factors. (Though the researchers did say those who worked out fared better than the completely sedentary.) I like to think that it’s OK to chill out after a long day as long as I get some exercise beforehand.
The more I look at my day, I realize I do sit too much. My job revolves around a desk, a chair, and a computer. At home—minus what time I spend cooking, cleaning, or at the gym—I spend time on the computer … and the couch. Thankfully, though, I don’t have any of the risk factors this study mentioned. And I’m hoping my trips to the gym keep it that way—even if that goes against the study’s findings.
photo by ooh_food
Yeah, I wish. My desk is really in a cubicle.
Not nearly as bright and inviting.
Take A Seat
On another note, there’s a different part of having a desk job that drives me nutso: Keeping my hands in a permanent state of typing (or on the mouse) makes my fingers feel about 50. My wrists get sore. And I’m pretty sure I have the beginnings of carpal tunnel. Anyone else experience this thanks to a little too much computer lovin’?
If that weren’t enough, sitting at my desk for nine hours a day has left my back as twisted as a Stanley Kubrick movie. I can feel the knots in my upper back and shoulders, and no amount of self-massage will get those babies to go away. (A massage is definitely in order. Free massages are one thing I massively miss from my beauty editor days. Can I add that to my birthday wish list?)
Lastly, staring at a computer is doing wonders for my vision. I want to post more about this at a later date, after I’ve read the science behind it. Here’s my deal: I’ve had horrible vision since third grade, but ever since I started working full time my eyesight has declined steeply. My eye doc agrees: Staring at a computer for hours isn’t great for our eyes. Expect a bigger and better post on this in the future.
What do you think of this study? How much TV do you watch each night or each week? For those who work at a desk: Do you notice any wear and tear on your body from all that sitting? And if you don’t work at a desk … does your job get you moving?
16 comments
When I worked at my coporate job I made sure I got up every hour and walked. I worked on the 12th floor so usually I would get up and go walk down to thr 6th floor and then just walk back up. It made me feel less sluggish! Also during my lunch break I rarely found that I needed an entire hour. So after lunch I would take a walk (I worked downtown) so it was easy for me to get around and walkk for30 minutes.
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I barely watch any TV per week. I do spend too much time on the computer though for school, blogging, reading, etc. I too find it strange that exercise can’t help to reverse the effects. I feel like everything is okay in moderation. I fear the inevitability of getting a desk job…I hope I can somehow avoid this.
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Tracey Reply:
March 4th, 2010 at 11:34 am
FoodFitnessFreshair–I agree that moderation is key. That’s why I don’t quite get why exercise wouldn’t help out a little.
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OMG, when I saw that desk/office i though you had the coolest desk in the universe!! LOL!
This is an interesting study! I make it a point to be active daily. But I do have TV shows that I love. I make it a rule to myself to not turn the TV on until 7 or 7:30pm.
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Tracey Reply:
March 4th, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Estela–I try not to watch anything before 8 p.m. either. In my opinion, there’s really nothing worth watching at that time.
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I was feeling guilty for letting so many unwatched shows build up on my DVR realizing that I hardly watch TV at all anymore and I’m usually on an elliptical when I do
But I don’t feel so bad now, thanks! Interesting study, there are so many tempting shows to watch and in my case, I hardly have anything to talk about with my co-workers if I’m not caught up on The Bachelor or The Biggest Loser … oh well.
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Tracey Reply:
March 4th, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Christine–I feel like I need to watch things fast, too. If I miss Lost, chances are I’ll hear what happened at work. And with that show, it pays to be surprised. So there’s no DVRing that!
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By the end of the day my eyes are terribly dry and itchy from looking at a computer screen for 10+ hours! And my back hurts too. Luckily yoga helps a lot.
I watch maybe half to one hour of TV a day. I really don’t have time for more but I surprisingly don’t miss it!
Love your hamper story…you have no idea how hard I was laughing this morning!!
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this was soo true! ahh during class im ALWAYS taking notes, on facebook, blog reading, and what not..sometimes its good to UN PLUG and pray and regroup! i seriously think i would go crazayyy if i had a desk job!
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I don’t think watching 24 can be that bad – it’s so exciting that my heart is racing for the entire hour so it must count as a workout! lol!
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Tracey Reply:
March 4th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Carla…that’s a good point. It’s so suspenseful!
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i don’t have a functioning TV at my apartment, so i really only watch tv when i’m at home, but i’m pretty darn sure my hours of daily blogging don’t fare too well either…
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I watch very little television. I have a couple of shows I like and if they aren’t on I turn it off. My kids don’t watch television. We have movie night once a week.
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Tracey Reply:
March 5th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Good for you, Diane!
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NPR recently reported on these same findings. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122620054
It seems that if we can just get up and move during a commercial break and get the muscles contracting the risks are reduced. My 2 year old usually provides enough distraction, but during the day when at my desk I have to get creative.
At my office I sit for 30 minute bouts on one of those exercise balls. This is great for my posture, if I slouch I fall off and it keeps the core engaged and contracting to maintain balance. It also makes me want to bounce as I sit, creating muscle contractions in my legs.
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Tracey Reply:
March 5th, 2010 at 3:26 pm
Dave–I’ve always wanted to make an exercise ball my chair. I think if I ever worked from home, I’d do it in a second. I also see a bad scenario where I’m in mid-type and fall over backwards. I’m clumsy like that.
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