Too Much Television is Dangerous to Your Health
By Sara Butler
How many hours do you think you spend in front of your television each day? So many people come in the door at the end of a long day, plop down on their couch, and proceed to watch hours of television. And it’s having an impact on the health of American families. Here are some of the ways that watching television has a negative impact on the health of you and your family.
Eating in Front of the Television
According to the National Institutes of Health, 40 percent of Americans watch the television while eating dinner. This behavior is linked to overeating. That’s because when you watch television as you eat, you’re distracted and not listening to your body’s signals. Before you know it, you’ve eaten more than you would have if the television wasn’t on.
It’s not just the television that is dangerous as you eat; it’s the computer, tablet, and video games too. So, make sure to take your family dinners back to the dinner table – everyone will be better for it.
Kids Spend Too Much Time Watching
It is estimated that the average American child spends about 1,000 hours per year watching television. The rising rates of child obesity bring this issue out into the open. Children simply aren’t active enough. You should limit the amount of time your child spends in front of the television and encourage more activity. Take a walk in the evening as a family or make it their responsibility to take the dog for a walk. You can also look to get them involved in a sport or other activity after school – any active hobby will do!
Turn the Television Off
Consider having certain days of the week or time of day where the television is turned off. This will be a good opportunity to do something together as a family. Make your kids pretend they live in the days before the invention of television. They may gripe a bit, but it’s good for them to experience the world around them and not just watch it on television.
It’s impossible to say no one in your family will ever watch television again, but just make sure you’re aware of just how much you watch it and what you can do to help mitigate some of the time you spend. Your health will be better if you can tune out and spend that time doing something more constructive for your wellness.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Orlando, Fla.