We all know that a sedentary lifestyle is dangerous to our health, and certain activities on top of this kind of lifestyle are particularly harmful. Used in moderation, television can be a source of information, education, and entertainment. Unfortunately, it also encourages many unhealthy living habits, such as smoking, binge drinking, and eating junk food. In turn, the negative health effects of television serve as a trigger for many diseases of civilization, eg diabetes, heart problems, obesity, sleep disorders, etc.
So, what makes watching television so detrimental to our health?
Numerous studies show that people who watch TV for three or more hours a day are twice as likely to die prematurely as compared to people who watch TV for an hour or less daily. The main reason for this is that watching TV is a sedentary activity which, directly or indirectly, leads to many health disorders or lifestyle habits. There are many negative health effects of television. Some of them are discussed below.
In the fast-paced and increasingly stressful world, people often resort to whatever methods they have at their disposal to find relief from incessant pressure and anxiety. One of the easiest ways to de-stress is to watch television after a long tiring day. Many people sit in front of a TV as soon as they get home not because they are particularly interested in the program, but simply to wind down after work.
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of chronic stress, and if unchecked, it can easily lead to Adrenal Fatigue, one of the very common conditions of our times.
Up to a certain level, your body can successfully de-stress itself enabling you to lead a normal life despite all the tension you have to live with. This de-stress mechanism is carried out by the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) Stress Response and the detoxification circuit.
There are six circuits within the NEM model and each one is related to certain systems and organs. Combined, they help you manage stress and maintain homeostasis.
Although watching television can be very relaxing, the main negative health effects of television revolve around unhealthy food choices. Those who take the time and trouble to prepare a balanced meal, understand the importance of eating slowly and mindfully. Unfortunately, very few people will cook a healthy meal after a stressful day and eat that while watching their favorite programs. The majority will just grab some snacks or TV dinner and spend the entire evening glued to the television.
The trouble with eating while watching TV is that you tend to overeat and because you do not pay attention to what you eat (because you are too busy watching TV) and you fail to realize when you are full. In addition to overeating, the main danger is the quality of the food people usually eat while watching TV. As a rule, TV meals or snacks are processed food with high levels of salt, sugar and refined carbohydrates.
If you eat junk food regularly, it is important to detoxify your body to get rid of all the toxins. However, in the case of detoxification circuit dysfunction, you are not able to eradicate the accumulated toxins. This usually happens when your liver is overloaded by long-term exposure to contaminated or inflammatory foods.
There are far too many negative health effects of television for this problem to be taken lightly and it is not a coincidence that the US, where watching TV is a major pastime, has the highest incidence of obesity-related disorders.
Unhealthy food choices combined with a sedentary lifestyle are recognized as the main cause of death and disability but the good news is that this is easily rectified. Simply limit your screen time and introduce some lifestyle changes to neutralize the negative health effects of television
Although relaxing, watching television does not help you fight stress or fatigue. It simply distracts you and numbs your mind. If you feel chronically exhausted, it is better to adopt a healthy diet and reduce the time you spend watching television or using a computer rather than try to regain energy by staring at the TV that will only further deplete your already low energy levels.
© Copyright 2020 Michael Lam, M.D. All Rights Reserved.
The worst of the negative health effects of television is the sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. Besides, frequent depictions of sex, crime, and violence can have a very negative psychological effect, especially on young viewers because there is a link between watching violence on TV and displaying aggression.
