Sitting in front of a TV or computer screen may lead to serious heart problems down the road.
A recent study, led by Emmanuel Stamatakis of University College in London, suggests people who spend four or more hours in front of a TV or computer screen are 50 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke compared to those who spend two or less hours.
Denise Seabert, associate professor of physiology and health science, said the results are obvious.
"Duh," she said. "Four hours is a lot."
Seabert then looked at the study from other angles.
"I have to think there are other factors. Are people getting up in the middle of the day and going to the gym? All evidence suggests that physical inactivity is linked to chronic health conditions. Sitting is a factor," she said.
Students had mixed reactions to the results of the study.
"I don't see how that could be true," senior architecture major Lee Meyer said. "The average American household has the TV on eight hours a day. It's a lack of nutrition in the household."
Meyer said he spends a lot of time in front of the computer and he feels fine.
"I spend more than four hours [in front of a computer] for my major," he said.
Freshman piano performance major Celia Villacres said she was not surprised by the results. She said on average she spends about eight hours a day sitting.
"It's not completely shocking," she said. "I would believe it. I spend about two hours [in front of the TV or computer]."
The study suggests watching TV or being on the computer is not the root of health problems, but sitting is.
Prolonged sitting slows down an enzyme that normally break down fat and cholesterol in the blood, thus causing a buildup within the body, according to the animal research done in the study.
Health science major Smriti Sahi said she believes there are other contributing factors.
"It's hard to say," she said. "From what I'm studying, we've never come across that. The field of science is so broadened with different branches of study that it is hard to tell a claim that anything is impossible."
Seabert said she has solutions to reduce these harmful health effects for sedentary people, including those who work at a desk for eight hours a day.
Seabert recommended to have office meetings outside while taking a walk around the building instead of sitting in a room at a desk, but she said the problem is that not everyone wants to participate.
"Our culture doesn't support that so much," she said. "We need to encourage people to take these actions. Do your day differently."
Extra Info:
Seabert is part of the Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative and encourages people to go to the website at inhealthyweight.org.
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