Study Long periods of television favor cancer and heart disease

How does the time spent in front of the TV affect your health??

At the present time, most people spend too much time watching TV, computer or smartphone screens. Not only the social interaction with other people suffers from this, but evidently increases with time before the screen and the risk of heart disease and cancer.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow found in their current research that spending too much time in front of the screen of technical equipment can increase the risk of heart disease and cancer. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "BMJ Medicine".

Spending time watching TV can significantly increase the risk of developing cancer and heart disease. (Image: Focus Pocus LTD / fotolia.com)

Low fitness almost doubles the risk

For their study, the researchers analyzed the time the 390,089 subjects spent in their spare time in front of televisions and computer screens. They found that the connection between high screen time and poor health was nearly twice as high in those with low fitness. The evaluated data came from the so-called UK Biobank.

Sedentary behavior is very unhealthy

The findings of the study could impact public health guidelines, according to study author Professor Jason Gill of the University of Glasgow. Television and time spent in front of computer screens in their free time contribute to a low-movement behavior, which in turn is associated with a higher risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease, explain the researchers.

Some people are particularly at risk

The study also found that not all people are equally affected by the health risk. The correlation between pre-screen time and adverse health outcomes is highest for people with low physical activity, low exercise, fitness and strength, says Professor Gill. This has potential implications for the public health guidelines, because if the results are causal, reducing the amount of time spent sitting could be an effective approach to improving health for those with low fitness and strength, the expert adds.

Too long time in front of the screen increases overall mortality

The researchers also found that a long time spent in front of the screen is associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality and a higher risk of heart disease and cancer. The results of the study were independent of physical activity, BMI, smoking, nutrition and other major disruptive factors, including socioeconomic status, the researchers explain.

Sedentary behavior must be reduced

If the health-related effects of time spent in front of the screen found in this study are causal, this suggests that people with the lowest levels of strength, fitness and physical activity would potentially derive the greatest benefit from the targeted health promotion measures to reduce sedentary behavior , study author Dr. Carlos Celis. (As)