health • children • television • Health & Wellness • 2 min read • Apr 23, 2014 12:00:00 AM • Written by: Kat Smith
Who doesn’t love an evening in front of the TV with full rein over the household Netflix account? Television is one of the nation’s favorite ways to unwind, and there seems to be a TV in any direction you look. While television is, undoubtedly, one of America’s ultimate sources of entertainment, it may also be the root of many serious health problems—especially in young kids. Check out the facts below to understand why television may pose a threat to your health.
Television promotes inactivity
Most of us prefer to watch television in bed or on the couch. While lounging in front of the TV may feel relaxing, too much of this can promote sedentary behaviors that stick. If you don’t want to miss your favorite shows, try watching them at the gym or lifting weights during commercial breaks. By watching television with a more active state of mind, you may decrease your diabetes risk by 25 percent and drop your risk for heart disease by 15 percent.
TV may keep you up at night
Even while TV can encourage laziness, it might also be preventing you from getting a good night’s rest. Children are particularly susceptible to poor sleep caused by watching too much television. Keeping a television in the bedroom worsens the problem, so keep television limited to common areas like the living room.
Relationships suffer when the TV is on
Because many television shows create iconic and nearly unachievable romantic ideals in relationships, binge watching may set up false expectations in your own relationships. You may also connect to your kids better if you spend family time playing games or heading to the park rather than watching TV.
Television may be a bad influence
It may be easy to park your kids in front of the TV for an hour or two, but you should pay attention to what they are watching. From racy shows to commercials targeted at children, kids may be bombarded with a number of negative influences. Plus, television may reduce your child’s imaginative creativity, so try books and puzzles before you flip the TV on.
How much television do you watch each week? Check out this helpful tool to put your TV watching in perspective and keep reading the MeMD blog for more interesting health facts.
