It’s time to get off the couch.
Indulging in binge-watching TV might seem appealing, but a recent study reaffirms that minimizing sofa time is crucial for healthy aging.
Examining two decades of data from over 45,000 participants in the Nurses’ Health Study, researchers assessed various lifestyle factors such as sitting time at work, home, and in front of the television, as well as time spent standing or walking. They compared this data with participants’ aging outcomes to define “healthy aging” as reaching the age of 70 without major chronic diseases, impaired memory, and maintaining overall good physical and mental health.
The study, led by Dr. Molin Wang from Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, highlighted the detrimental effects of sedentary TV viewing on health. Replacing TV time with light physical activity, moderate to vigorous physical activity, or additional sleep (for those with inadequate sleep) was associated with better odds of healthy aging.
Specifically, substituting an hour of sedentary TV watching with light physical activity at home increased the chances of reaching a healthy 70 or beyond by 8%. This likelihood rose to 28% when replaced with moderate to vigorous physical activity. Even individuals who slept less than the recommended seven hours per night saw benefits in healthy aging by trading an hour of TV for an extra hour of sleep.
Published in the journal JAMA Network Open on June 11, the study underscores the negative impact of prolonged TV viewing on overall health. Dr. Andrew Freeman, director of cardiovascular prevention and wellness at National Jewish Health in Denver, emphasized that TV watching often accompanies unhealthy behaviors like consuming junk food and disrupting sleep patterns.
He emphasized the transformative power of exercise in mitigating these risks, recommending any form of physical activity, even in short durations, to combat cardiovascular risk factors. Freeman suggested incorporating standing or treadmill desks at work and avoiding prolonged sitting periods to promote movement throughout the day.
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