This one thing may derail your shot at healthy aging, scientists say

[Demovictory9]

https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2024-06-14/this-one-thing-may-derail-your-shot-at-healthy-aging-scientists-say

Before you settle in to binge the new season of “The Bear” or watch Team USA go for the gold at the Paris Olympics, think twice about the amount of time you spend on the couch in front of the TV. Your future self may thank you.

A new study by Harvard researchers links the popular pastime of sitting and watching television to the likelihood of reaching one’s senior years in a state of good health: the more time spent doing the former, the lower the odds of achieving the latter.

The problem doesn’t seem to be with sitting in general. After controlling for a variety of risk factors such as diet quality and smoking history, the researchers found no relationship between time spent in a chair at work and the chances of aging well. Ditto for sitting in cars or at home doing something besides watching TV, such as reading, eating meals or paying bills.

Yet for every additional two hours spent in front of the boob tube, a person’s chance of meeting the researchers’ definition of healthy aging declined by 12%, according to their study published this week in JAMA Network Open.

[question everything]

1. Reading, therefore, is OK?

[Demovictory9]

2. Thats what it says in paragraph 3

[question everything]

23. I am curious of whether they differentiate between a print book and an ebook. Same for

working. Whether starting at a screen - actively - makes a difference.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. I can't stop the aging process, but I can surely SLOW it down..

Here is my secret....

1. Eat healthy in smaller portions of lean protein, healthy fats like Extra Virgin Olive Oil, some nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, at least 80 ounces of water daily.

2. Skin care regimen of daily cleansing, moisturizing, and protection.

3. Getting at least a 3 mile walk in 5 to 6 days a week.

4. Getting to the local gym 3 to 4 days a week to build up muscle.

5. No smoking.

6. Alcohol in moderation.

7. Vitamin supplements to replace lost nutrients.

8. At a minimum, 7 hours of sleep.

9. Minimize time in the sun.

10. Stretch

This is the lifestyle I have had for close to 50 years. Was I always faithful to it? Not always.

But my Grandmother died at 57 from Congestive Heart failure. She said something to me that I have taken to heart since 1974..."You can have a beautiful home, lots of money in the bank, lots of friends, be surrounded by material things. But if you don't have your health, you have NOTHING!"

AT 72 now, I can count my lucky stars that I have my health. It has been expensive, but so worth it.

[2naSalit]

5. 1, 2, 5, 9, 10.

I do walk and am pretty active physically but I don't go to gyms or "work out". I don't have any major issues that I take meds for... got a nasty case of arthritis and a ton of little problems. I guess time will tell.

[Demovictory9]

22. Thanks for mentioning moisturizing. People say "i cant use up bottle of lotion"

Me..I sure can

[usonian]

4. My experience is that couches are hell for your back.

They don't support your back properly and encourage slouching (same for other living room chairs)

Most other chairs actually help you sit upright, though feebly at times.
Even the piano bench and computer chair seem to be better, though arguably, you need to sit upright to actually do anything.
(So avoid the ipad in the easy chair life, as well)

🧘‍♀️

[2naSalit]

6. I only have...

Straight back chairs and a big rocking chair, I use a table to hold my computer. I get up often.

No teevee, just my laptop and a stereo.

[usonian]

8. I agree. TV is bad for mental health.

There's so much to see and do less that gizmo.

[2naSalit]

9. It has one function...

Last edited Fri Jun 14, 2024, 02:27 PM - Edit history (1)

To feed you info of whatever kind, requires no actual independent cognitive function other than whatever it takes to sit there and absorb.

At least computers make you perform tasks that require some form of cognition.

[usonian]

12. I watch baseball on the radio!

Lets me process my (great) photographs without distraction, and (sigh) wash the dishes as well.

Two caveats:

• I resist the urge to throw dishes when there's another STRIKE THREE LOOKING, and
• Baseball on the radio helps me sleep shortly after the game (if not during the game).

Not your "ldeal Family"

[2naSalit]

18. I forgot to mention...

That my stereo plays a lot of NPR because there's no yelling and they play classical music which I like to listen to when doing other things. Radio has always been my go to. My mom was a radio listener, teevee was for evening entertainment. I guess that's probably the one holdover I retain from my parents.

[usonian]

19. I love classical, but in the boondocks, there's only one repeater.

And it’s very weak. I have gone over to Internet radio, via browser or apps, but it’s not as easy as flipping a switch, of course.

Favs are KUSC/KDFC, WBJC, WDAV (Davidson), WQXR (several channels, including the Operavore channel) and so on.

KUSC has Lara Downes’ program from 8 to 12p pacific, weeknights, with an immense variety of classical, and WDAV has “Concierto” now and then. These are great musical and educational experiences.

Music keeps me young!

If I hear something really good, I’ll often go over to the piano and try to play it. Results vary, but the effort is really good for mind and spirit.

[2naSalit]

20. We get new repeaters every year...

It seems. The NPR station that covers my half of the state, Yellowstone Public Radio (YPR) now has a 24 hr Classical broadcast also available online. I'm impressed, Idaho doesn't have that. In Idaho the church owns everything so there's a lot of church on the radio, I was lucky I could get the SLC station where I was at the time.

Radio out here in the sticks is getting better, still better than free teevee, gets 2 channels, sometimes more, sometimes none.

[usonian]

21. I love radio but have finally gone to internet music entirely (when not driving).

Cell coverage in the foothills has its gaps, and everything's a distraction. I always forget to pop in a CD or hook up the ancient ipod nano. CD's will melt in the CA central valley (sodas will explode in the heat or when they freeze up here in winter).

My first electronic kit was a Lafayette Explor-Air tube set. The latest is a Sangean that I got at the thrift store (like everything else).

Threw in the towel when I finally swapped out cellular internet for (drum roll) DSL.

But it's always on. I don't do videos. Same reason as I gave above. Hate having to sit still for long periods.

I'm a man of action. (world's best water pistol! )

[Easterncedar]

7. I'm no math wizard but...

At 12% loss for each two hours, seems like the weekends I spent bingeing Happy Valley and Russian Doll should have kilt me dead by now.

[marybourg]

10. And I should live forever since I have never

watched more than an hour or two of tv a year.

[Easterncedar]

11. Coffee reduces risk of mortality

Was a headline I once read. Since I figured we all have a 100% risk of mortality, a coffee hound like myself was never going to die.

[Irish_Dem]

13. If you keep drinking coffee, but start watching TV, you can avoid living forever.

[Easterncedar]

16. Right! And be happy to the end

[Irish_Dem]

17. Exactly!

[Irish_Dem]

14. So it is the passive TV watching which is the killer.

Not the mere sitting. You can sit, but keep your brain active by reading, paying bills, writing, etc.

[Irish_Dem]

15. DU is helping us age well and live longer.

Most of us are not passively reading here.

We are learning, absorbing new information, discussing, arguing, defending our views,
changing our views, making comments and OPs.

We answer and ask questions, post new material, share our expertise on a wide
variety of topics.

All of this is helping our brains, creating new neural pathways, which makes up live longer and age well.