Television and Obesity Link
Television and Obesity Link. I must be honest; it has been a few years since I last went out shopping for a TV. I walked around the store looking at the vast range and could not believe just how massive the screens have become. I remember going to the Saturday Morning pictures at the local Odeon, as a child. I’m not sure if the cinema screen matched the incredible high definition, 85 inch, top of the range screens I was looking at!
Screen Size Explosion
Just a little basic research on Google indicated that TV screens, have been progressively increasing in size, since the launch of commercial TV, around 1930. In 1963, the most popular TV was Philips. It had, an impressive screen size of 23 inches. Can you imagine a family sitting in their lounge, watching, what now would be described as a miniature screen!
Television and Obesity Link
Jump to 1990, then Mitsubishi was selling their new model, which had an incredible screen size of 35 inches. So screen sizes had grown over 50% in less than 30 years. Today, there is an almost unlimited range on the market, offering screens as large as 85 inches. This, of course, means that they have again doubled in size, within the same time frame of 30 years.
So what? You may be thinking. TV screens are getting bigger; definition is improving, the colours are more vivid and intense. And you are right, of course! But, as I was in that shop, I noticed that many of the shoppers also seemed to be bigger. It was plain to see that the number of overweight customers outnumbered those of a normal healthy weight by almost 2 to 1.
Television and Obesity Link
If you look at the almost straight line on the obesity graph, spanning the past few decades, whilst looking at the data on TV screen sizes, you will be excused if you find yourself having to take a second look. The increase in obesity is almost tracking the increase in the size of our TV screens. I started wondering if maybe there was a connection…
No one can argue, there is no place for discussion or debate, that as screens became larger, so did we. Of course, it is not just down to us become increasingly sedentary, watching more and more TV, on ever-growing screens. The almost acceptance of the ‘Obesogenic’ society we find ourselves living in must take its share of responsibility.
An Obesogenic society is basically one where there is an unlimited availability of energy-dense food, (which is mostly junk food). But, at the same time, people are doing very little physical activity. It’s like a ‘perfect storm’ scenario; perfectly emulating the old saying “too much in, not enough out”. It is hard to argue against it. Television and Obesity Link.
Television and Obesity Link
The new TVs, of course, are all remote controlled. Consequently, no one ever gets off their backside to change the channel any more. In the same way, we never get up to answer the phone, because we keep our mobiles permanently glued to our side! And so, we just sit there on the sofa, with our bucket of popcorn, watching our 85 inch TV, expending the bare minimum amount of energy.
TV + Obesity = Depression
The link between watching a lot of TV and obesity was first explored more than 25 years ago, and the results published in the National Library of Medicine. The study, back in 1985, found that “In 12- to 17-year-old adolescents, the prevalence of obesity increased by 2% for each additional hour of television viewed.”
Sit Time Vs Fit Time
Numerous further studies have confirmed that so-called “sit time” in front of the TV increases obesity in both children and adults worldwide. Researchers believe there are three reasons for this. Firstly, TV watching directly replaces time spent doing physical activity. Secondly, it encourages poor diets and unhealthy snacking. And thirdly, it is likely to disrupt sleep quality.
So, how can people take steps to avoid falling in to the trap of allowing their big screen to increase the size of their bottom? Well, one very healthy suggestion, direct from Harvard Public Health website, that we also agree with, is to “replace sit time with fit time”. In other words, aim to limit your daily sedentary activities and increase your physical activity time instead.
TV and Depression
Psychology Today reports on research by Massachusetts General Hospital, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry in 2020. The study concluded that people who lack social connections and spend many hours a day on their own watching TV were at risk of suffering from depression. And, according to the World Health Organisation, depression is a leading cause of disability, which affects around 5% of adults worldwide.
Obesity and Depression
On our website, we also have a blog all about the connection between depression and obesity. They are so closely linked that it’s often difficult to work out which condition comes first, because they form such a vicious circle. People often ask the question does obesity cause depression, or depression cause obesity?
Television and Obesity Link
One final thought, I have just watched a promo video for a new laser projector TV system, which looked amazing. And the screen size was a whopping 150 inches! Incorporate that, with the fact that the TV streaming giants like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney and HBO, are reportedly, collectively producing thousands of hours of new content every week. The end result is pretty much a tsunami of “Big Screens, and an even bigger Girth!” The problem never existed years ago, we have a new page: Losing Weight After 60.
The Top Three Questions
FAQ 1 Why Does Watching TV Cause Depression?
Watching TV in moderate amounts does not cause depression. It has been shown to increase the level of Dopamine in the brain, which is a good thing and makes people generally feel happy. However, research indicates that the opposite effect happens when people spend too many hours in front of their screens, binge-watching a whole series, for example.
FAQ 2 How Many Hours of TV is Recommended?
An article in the LA Times says that 3.5 hours a day is the maximum healthy amount of time to spend sitting and watching TV. One of the biggest concerns is the number of hours sitting with zero activity. This sedentary pastime is considered dangerous. They describe sitting in front of the TV as “the new smoking!!!!”
FAQ 3 Will I lose Weight if I Stop Watching TV?
Yes, and No. It just depends on what you do with the abundance of extra time you find your self with. If you take some gentle exercise, even just going for a walk, instead of watching the TV, your weight will reduce. The fresh air and movement will also increase your well being.
Below are a few Weight-Loss Tips you should be following.
Tip No. 1 – Only Eat When You’re Hungry!
This has to be our number one, golden rule, when it comes to achieving successful weight loss. In our experience, most overweight people eat for many different reasons, other than physical hunger. But, if you allow your emotions to control your eating habits, then it is unlikely that you will be able to control your weight as a result. So, before you reach for anything to eat, stop and ask yourself first if you physically NEED to eat, or you just WANT to…
Tip No. 2 – Use a Smaller Plate!
You’ve probably heard this many times before, but it’s a fact that people who use larger plates tend to eat more food than those who eat from smaller plates. Remember the famous Delboeuf optical illusion, because a small portion of food looks more generous when served on a smaller size plate. If you stick to our mantra, “always go for quality over quantity”, then you will definitely lose weight much more easily.
Tip No. 3 – Drink a Glass or Two of Water Before Your Meal!
Reduce Your Calorie Intake by over 20%, with almost with no effort! Research results, published by Harvard Medical showed that people who drank two large glasses of water, just before eating, consumed, on average, around 20% less food than previously. This is possibly as a result of the stretching and fullness sensation in the stomach.
Television and Obesity Link
A Permanent Solution to Weight Loss
Are you tired of trying an endless list of diets that just don’t work? Are you becoming weary of your efforts, always resulting in you regaining all the lost weight? Has your approach to dieting made you fear social events?
Are you looking for a Medically Endorsed solution; one based on thousands of hours of experience? Do you dream of finding a ‘Permanent Weight Loss’ treatment? Have you searched on Google in the hope of finding a proven programme? Maybe something that doesn’t involve undertaking a restrictive diet, doing lots of exercise, or having invasive surgery… And no need to buy any “Meal Replacement” products!
My Weigh Less Downloadable Course
Read on the pages of this website how Oxford Therapeutics Limited – ‘My Weigh Less’ is successfully delivering what is Utopia to Dieters. A Medically Endorsed, proven weight loss approach. A programme based on over 15,000 1:1 clinical treatment hours.
You can download a free MP3 introduction to our course right now. No email or credit card details required, just ten minutes of your time. Find out how My Weigh Less can help you reach your weight-loss goals and discover long-term weight management! We hope you enjoyed our Television and Obesity Link page.
Martin and Marion Shirran, the developers and joint Clinical Directors, appeared on both the Good Morning America and the This Morning Breakfast Show. Kay Lindley, photo below, lost over 105 pounds, and reversed her type 2 diabetes, following her treatment with the Shirrans.
Lose Weight Permanently
So go ahead, relax, and take a few minutes to daydream about what it would be like to be slim and healthy. If you were at your target weight? And then imagine if you never had to go on a diet again, or be afraid of food? What if you were able to enjoy every social event? And you also had an abundance of extra energy, and improved self-esteem.
Television and Obesity Link
Welcome to the evidence-based My Weigh Less Master Class. A proven, psychology focused downloadable weight loss treatment, that delivers Permanent Results. It’s also based on over 15,000 1:1 clinical hours treating overweight clients. Sarah Hart, below, lost 140 pounds following her treatment.
No Diets, Just Psychology
The My Weigh Less treatment is psychology-focused, built around the experience of treating over a thousand clients. The fully downloadable treatment has also been the subject of extensive real person trials. But, as with your considerations regarding any weight loss approach, do take a look at the verified case studies, and their before and after photos on the My Weigh Less Site. And afterwards, if you require additional comfort, visit the Medical Endorsement page.
The Gold Standard in Non-Surgical Weight Loss
The downloadable My Weigh Less course consists of twelve, one-hour weight loss sessions, with the Shirrans, who have accumulated in excess of 15,000 hours of 1:1 clinical treatment time. In addition to the twelve sessions, clients receive a number of videos, animated presentations, visual aids and hypnosis sessions.
Martin Shirran below was one of first trial candidates.
The My Weigh Less Course is new and refreshing, incorporating the latest, science-based, behavioural change techniques. It’s also completely based on an approach that has changed the lives of over a thousand people. And now, you can also experience all the benefits, the changes in your life, and your thinking around food from the comfort of your own home. Martin, above, also went on to lose 84 pounds himself.
Psychologies Magazine featured their work.
Permanent Weight Loss is the Goal
If you want to lose weight permanently, and have looked into different diets, and possibly even surgery, then take a step back, before you decide which approach to adopt. You don’t need to spend any money right now, but just take ten minutes or so, to read some of the pages of the My Weigh Less website. After all, you have nothing to lose. You can also find additional information on Martin and Marion Shirran’s GMB site.
Registered Stakeholder in NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Marion Shirran, is proud to be a registered Stakeholder in NICE – The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Marion is registered with the All Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity.
Winners of the 2022 Mental Health Award – ‘Most Innovative Obesity Psychological Therapy’
Martin and Marion are the co-authors of two, bestselling books, published by Hay House in New York.
The Downloadable Weight-Loss Solution.
Martin and Marion Shirran are Directors of Oxford Therapeutics Limited, which owns the Intellectual Property rights of My Weigh Less product.
You can download the complete My Weigh Less course, and start your weight-loss journey today.
Pingback: How Did We Get So Fat
Comments are closed.