Currently, 80% of adults in the United States watch at least 3.5 hours of television per day. This is alarming as a new study links the hours spent watching TV to increased risks for eight of the major causes of death. The study found older adults who watched TV for three to four hours per day were 15% more likely to die from any cause during the 15-year study than those who spent less time in front of the television. The researchers add that individuals who watched seven or more hours of TV per day were 47% more likely to die during the course of the study than those who seldom watch TV. Lead researcher Dr. Sarah K. Keadle writes, “Our results fit within a growing body of research indicating that too much sitting can have many different adverse health effects.”
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, July 2015