Sitting & Watching Television For Long Can Cause This Problem

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Sitting down for long periods increases your chances of mobility problems later in life, claim scientists.

Prolonged periods of sitting and watching television causes a THREE-FOLD increased risk of developing a walking difficulty in later life, a new study has shown.

The study, which followed a group of healthy people between the ages of 50 and 71 for 10 years, found that prolonged sitting was particularly harmful when combined with low levels of physical activity.

Participants who watched 5 or more hours of TV per day had a 65% greater risk of reporting a mobility disability at the study's end, compared with those who watched the least amounts of TV (less than 2 hours per day) - regardless of their level of physical activity.

However, those who had three hours per week or less of physical activity were found to be even more likely to have difficulty walking by the end of the study.

"Sitting and watching TV for long periods (especially in the evening) has got to be one of the most dangerous things that older people can do," said Professor Loretta DiPietro, lead author of the study from George Washington University in Washington, DC.

This study comes a week after Public Health England announced UK is facing a shocking health timebomb due to inactivity.

The survey showed that more than six million middle-aged Brits fail to manage a single brisk 10 minute walk in a month. "As we age, the less we use our muscles, the worse they become in terms of quantity AND quality," said Dr James Brown from Aston University and trustee of the British Society for Research on Ageing.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.