Television viewing time and mortality: the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study
Television viewing time in relation to mortality was examined among 8800 Australian adults who were initially interviewed in 1999–2000. Follow-up for mortality was to the date of death or the 16th November 2006, whichever
occurred first.
Daily television viewing time was classified into three groups: less than 2 hours, 2 to less than 4 hours, 4 hours and greater. Volunteers reported their television viewing which included time spent watching television or videos in the previous 7 days. This did not include time when the television was switched on but with other activities undertaken concurrently. Over the follow-up period, 285 deaths occurred.
The study found the following results:
• Television viewing time was associated with increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Each one-hour increment in television viewing time was associated with an 11% and an 18% increased risk of allcause and CVD mortality, respectively.
• In comparison with those watching less than 2 hours/day of television, there was a 46% increased risk of all-cause mortality and an 80% increased risk of CVD mortality in those watching 4 hours or more per day of television. These results were independent of traditional risk factors such as smoking, blood pressure, blood lipids, diet, leisure-time exercise and waist circumference.
Reference -
Dunstan DW, Barr EL, Healy GN et al. Circulation 2010; 121(3): 384-391