The dictionary definition of ‘couch potato’ implies someone who spends a lot of time sitting and watching television.
When we imagine of a person being a ‘couch potato’ we end up with an idea of the person who will be overweight, lazy, glued to the TV set and eating wafers, chips, popcorn and gulping some or the other fizzy drink. Research has shown that the longer you sit glued to the television (better known as the idiot box); chances of you putting on weight and ultimately be classified as obese is very high as you end up eating junk foods while viewing the television!
The position of lying down for longer duration is risky to the health as surveys have also shown that if we are inactive it causes our body to produce more fat within our already-existing fat cells and because of this the cells themselves become larger in size. And we all know the complications of obesity and sedentary lifestyle.
What is worrying is that the harmful effects that the prolonged ‘zero activity’ time spent by the body, cannot be undone by exercising or even vigorous exercises like running or cycling because the change is irreversible!
A recent study published in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that persons who spent two or more hours per day sitting in front of television had double the chances of getting heart attack compared to the one who spent less time, with all other risk factor similar. A mention was also made that all those who spent four or more hours in front of the television and lived a sedentary life style had a 50% higher chance of sudden death, from any cause. Exercise doesn’t cancel out the risks associated with the hours of television watching +/- consuming junk food.
In current times the same damage is done by long hours spent on smart phones/ pads.
Take home message
To prevent this irremediable damage to our body, it is advised to curtail the TV viewing time by several hours a week; ideally the time allocated to watching TV should not be more than one hour a day! It is recommended to rather than just sitting and watching TV.
Dr Satish Kanojia, Practising Homoeopathy & Biochemic since last 20 years; He is Assistant editor of National Journal of Homoeopathy, India’s largest Homoeopathic Journal. Dr Satish has rich experience in writing research articles, creating MCQs, Academic Crosswords and Sudokus
So right, Dr satish
I put on 16 kgs in 3 years when I shifted to US and did not have work permit. I also got high BP at age of 34! I turned into a couch potato. & have been still struggling to lose weight.
Dear Sunanda,
Socialize and look for some activities like joining gym, playing outdoor games with kids which will reduce your time in watching TV and help burn calories!
keep it up buddy
Hi..Dr.Satish, its really worthy, enlightening and informative.
There is a very interesting and at the same time alarming fact mentioned in your article “In current times the same damage is done by long hours spent on smart phones/ pads”.
With practically everyone glued to there mobile screens I dread to think as a result of it the rise we going to see in obesity related cases and consequently life style diseases like diabetes, cardiac ailments as well……