Do you find yourself glued to the screen, whether it's your
computer or TV? It could be packing on pounds.
Researchers at the Milken Institute (a nonprofit, nonpartisan
think tank) in California found a direct link between spikes in technology
usage and increases in obesity rates in 27 countries between 1988 and 2009.
Specifically, the increase in "screen time" was cited
as a major factor, meaning time devoted to using computers, watching TV and
playing video games.
"Technological innovations, more processed foods, a greater
amount of 'screen time,' less exercise, and higher consumption of snack foods
have all played a role," report co-author and economist Anusuya Chatterjee
said in a news release. "These are all the adverse effects of a knowledge-based
society."
To conduct the study, Milken researchers looked at the
connection between a country's level of investment in communication technology
(ICT) and the prevalence of obesity rates. They found that for every 10
percentage point increase in ICT investment, the obesity rate of that country
climbs 1.4 percentage points, on average.
"This is not surprising at all," Angela Ginn,
registered dietician and spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics, tells HealthySELF. "As individuals become more
tech-sophisticated, their lives become more sedentary, and a sedentary
lifestyle increases the risk of obesity and obesity-related diseases."
Leading the pack in obesity? The United States. Thirty-three
percent of Americans are obese, according to the Institute. So what can you do
to stave off weight gain? Get moving! According to the Milken researchers, in
those same countries with high ICT investment rates, a 1 percent increase in
the number of physically active people can prevent a 0.2 percent rise in
obesity in the population.
Here are some easy tips to cut down on your screen time today:
Stick with the shows you LOVE. Ginn says you should limit
yourself to one hour a day of your favorite show. Addicted to your Mad Men
marathons? "Cut down screen time gradually each night," she advises.
Watch movies and shows at the gym. What better incentive than to
put the timer on 60 instead of 30 than the latest Ryan Gosling flick?
Can't make it to the gym? "Get moving while watching
TV," says Ginn. "Try a hand bicycle or foot peddler."
Beware of mindless snacking! Snacking in front of Modern Family
and snacking at your desk while you work both add to the problem, says Ginn.
"Avoid bringing snacks to the couch or your desk," she says. If you
do need a snack, go for crunchy vegetables or air-popped popcorn, and limit
your high-calorie treats to small snack bags once in a while.
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