Posted Sept 28, 2011
A team of Harvard University researchers are warning Americans to put down their remote controls after discovering a new culprit in type 2 diabetes, heart disease and even premature death – watching too much television.
The study, which was released in the Journal of the American Medical Association in June, is just the most recent to shed light on the dangers of sedentary lifestyles, but one that has startled public health officials and nutrition experts, said lead author Frank Hu.
Hu and fellow author Anders Grontved conducted a meta-analysis – a systematic study of all published research from 1970 to 2011 that linked television watching to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and early death. Their results, Hu said, were much graver than expected – watching more than two hours of television a day leads to a 20 percent increased chance of developing diabetes, a 15 percent increased chance of developing heart disease and a 13 percent increased chance of dying prematurely.
And given the fact that the average American watches four to five hours of television a day, something needs to change to combat these sedentary lifestyles, Hu said.
“These findings are very substantial because the increased risk is relatively large, given only two hours of TV watching,” Hu said. “The findings suggest that sedentary lifestyle is an important modifiable risk factor for chronic diseases, as well as mortality. This is something that can be modified and the benefit, I think, is going to be significant from the public health point of view.”
Studies on sedentary lifestyles have nutrition and health experts, like D.C.-based personal trainer Josef Brandenburg, paying attention. Brandenburg, who started his own fitness company The Body You Want more than 10 years ago, said it’s more important than ever for Americans to start getting active – even if it’s in small ways.
“Modern medical science can help us live a very long life, but it doesn’t seem to help us live a good, long life,” he said. “If you are tired and obese in your 20s, it’s really not going to go uphill from there. … In your life, everything else depends on how much energy you have and how you feel. If you don’t take care of your body, everything else will suffer without any exception.”
According to Brandenburg, statistics show that 40 to 50 million Americans have sedentary jobs, which don’t allow them to get the recommended 30 minutes of exercise five days a week. And since Hu’s evidence points to more Americans hitting the couch than the treadmill, Brandenburg said it’s important to prioritize some type of movement during the day.
Whether it be taking the stairs instead of the elevator, walking a few blocks instead of driving or simply making an effort to get out of your chair every few hours, Brandenburg said such movements can improve quality of life and overall health.
“You do not need to take an hour or two hours or three hours to get the benefits of some physical activity,” he said. “Stretch for five minutes when you get a break. When you’re tired, the first thing you think is, ‘I don’t want to move because I’m tired.’ …Just five minutes of moving around will increase your energy far better than an extra cup of coffee will.”
For Hu, his research is an important way to show Americans that it’s not enough to just exercise – even fitness buffs can become couch potatoes.
“Most recommendations have focused on increasing physical exercise, but they’ve ignored the other side of the coin, which is sedentary lifestyle,” he said. “The results from this study indicate that both sides are important. We should not only promote increased exercise, but reduce sedentary lifestyle.”
© 2011, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.