11 health hazards of watching too much TV

In today's world, watching TV cannot be avoided. It is increasingly becoming the preferred past time for children and adults alike. While it may be argued that watching educational programmes helps increase one's knowledge quotient, it is widely believed that the risks far outweigh the benefits.

Read on to discover the various ways in which watching too much TV could seriously harm your health.

1. Increased risk of cardiovascular diseases

Research studies have suggested that a person's risk of suffering from a fatal cardiovascular disease increases by 18 percent for each hour (per day) that he or she spends watching TV. Combined with a sedentary lifestyle, watching excessive TV is equivalent to slow poison.

2. Disturbance in sleep patterns

Doctors have always stressed the importance of sleeping well in order to promote good health. Watching too much TV is detrimental to sound sleep. Light from the TV set stimulates the brain and reduces the production of melatonin, which promotes sleep. Especially in the evenings, the level of melatonin increases in the body to help it relax for the night.

Watching too much TV disrupts this natural balance and consequently, leads to fatigue and irregularities in sleep.

3. Raised risk of developing diabetes

Scientific studies conducted by researchers have concluded that watching too much TV is associated with a raised risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The risk increased by 14% for every 2 hours (per day) of TV viewing.

4. Higher risk of becoming obese

Adults and children are both likely to become obese by watching too much TV. Sitting for hours on end causes the body's metabolic rate to slow down. Thus, more fat is stored.

5. Risk of developing attention deficit disorder

Children are more likely to develop neurological disorders and have trouble concentrating if they spend long periods of time watching TV. The quickly moving images and frequently changing sounds are said to be harmful for young children.

6. Higher risk of getting asthma

According to a study conducted in the United Kingdom on 3,000 children aged less than 1 year to 11 years, watching TV for 2 or more hours every day increased their risk of developing asthma.

7. Increased probability of overeating

This is an unhealthy outcome of watching TV that is none too strange. People do not realize how much food, especially junk food, is consumed while watching TV.

8. Retarded mental development

Scientists have come to the conclusion that watching TV has no benefits for children under the age of 2 years. These children learn much more from actual interaction with people rather than watching a screen. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children older than 2 years of age should not watch more than 2 hours of TV per day.

9. Greater strain on the eyes

It is no great secret that watching too much TV puts undue stress on the eyes. You should avoid watching TV in a dark room for extended periods of time.

10. Development of aggressive behavior

TV exposes the delicate sensibilities of young children to violence; something that they are not prepared for. This manifests itself in a display of unnaturally aggressive behavior.

11. Decreased social interaction

Watching TV robs children of precious time that can be spent interacting with their peers. This sort of interaction is crucial to develop social skills that will determine the child's personality in the years to come. By watching too much TV, the child may also develop various phobias or become emotionally stunted. The inability to express one's emotions in a healthy manner may lead to feelings of frustration and aggression.

According to scientists, a human body is not designed to sit for long periods of time. Thus, lounging in front of the TV for great lengths of time brings a host of disorders and diseases. It is not feasible to completely cut out TV viewing time from one's life today. But, parents must regulate the amount of time spent watching TV for the sake of their own and their children's health.

Photo source: Getty images

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