Is Binge-Watching TV Bad For Your Health?

Do you enjoy watching TV for hours on end? Well, you aren't alone. Statistics show that 73% of Americans "binge-watch" their favorite shows. Whether you prefer comedies, sitcoms, documentaries, movies, etc., there's nothing quite as relaxing as binge-watching TV. But while it may seem harmless enough, it could actually be bad for your health.

Researchers from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, Australia say that for every hour you spend in front of the TV, your risk of death from inflammation is increased by 12%. For the study, researcher analyzed health data involving more than 8,900 adults. After examining the data, they found a shocking correlation between TV viewing and inflammation-related death.

When speaking about the study. Dr. Megan explained that many people spend several hours binge-watching their shows every day.

"With on-demand television, many of us easily spend several hours a day binge-watching our favourite shows,” explained lead author Dr. Megan. “Those who spent more time watching TV were older, less likely to have completed at least 12 years of education, had lower household income, were more likely to be current or ex-smokers, more likely to have diabetes or hypertension and had a more adverse overall health profile. High TV viewers also had a lower diet quality.”

It's unclear exactly how or why binge-watching is bad for your health. This study only found a correlation between inflammation-related death and hours spent watching TV. It did not reveal the underlying connection. With that said, there's some belief that prolonged sitting -- whether it's watching TV or lounging on the couch -- is bad for your health.

Of course, this isn't the only study suggesting that prolonged sitting is bad for your health. A 2016 study conducted by Elsevier Health Sciences found that sitting for more than three hours a day was linked to a 3.8% increase of death from all causes. The study also found that reducing the amount of time you spend sitting to less than three hours increases life expectancy by roughly 0.2 years.

If you're worried about your health and want to lower your risk of chronic illness, try to limit the amount of time you spend sitting. By spending more time walking and less time sitting, you'll promote better health and wellness, all while lowering your risk of inflammation-related death in the process.