We’ve all done it.
It’s been a hard week, we want to have a lazy Saturday, so we load up our favorite show on Netflix.
One episode becomes two, two turns into three, and next thing you know you’re on season six of Lost and still don’t know what the heck is happening.
Most call this “binge-watching”.
Although we know we’re being utterly lazy, many of us see it as something harmless.
At least if done from time to time.
Moderation is key, of course, but what happens if you’re a relentless binge watcher?
Study after study has shown that the benefits of physical activity will trickle through life and treat you well in old age.
These activities improve your biomechanics and muscle coordination. Our emotional stability and brain function.
It even increases the intake of oxygen to the body and eases the symptoms of arthritis throughout your life.
This isn’t everything but I won’t wear you out with the details here in this one post. Simply showing the vast benefits of physical activity should be enough for now.
A much more recent study is now showing that the earlier we engage in physical activity the better mobility we will have as we age.
One of the most notable parts of this study?
Less sitting.. Specifically, less sitting in front of the T.V.
This study with 134,000 subjects recorded the effects of varied activity levels as the subjects age. These studies began 1995-1996 and 2004-2005.
The subjects were required to record the time they spent sitting, sitting in front of the T.V., and weekly physical activity. Findings, after this eight year study, were then recorded and published.
The results, in those that were active (Greater than 7 hours of activity), who sat less than 6 hours a day, did not have any sitting induced mobility issues.
Risk of mobility issues rose in subjects of this active group the more hours they sat throughout the day. Generally, greater than 7 hours.
Those active less than 3 hours, and who sat more than 3 hours were twice as likely to experience mobility issues as opposed to the more active group.
So, even if you’re not sitting around, less activity can result in loss of mobility.
And inversely, a moderate amount of sitting won’t result in loss of mobility if we stay active regularly.
The single exception? Yep, you guessed it. T.V. watchers. More specifically, binge watchers.
Across all activity levels, sitting in front of the T.V. after your regular day filled (or not) with sitting did ,correlate to loss of mobility. Loss of mobility became quite apparent in subjects when they watched T.V. for 3+ hours a day compared to those who only watched T.V. 1-2 hours.
So, do you think you can cut own on the binge watching?
The sessions of watching “Lost” with no end in sight?
If not, can you be more active while watching T.V.?
No matter what your answer is, the results speak for themselves. More T.V. equals less mobility.
