*Drops the TV remote*
New research has found that binge watching TV could lead to more belly fat. Even if someone excercises enough and has a healthy weight, belly fat could increase by watching too much TV.
According to STL Today, a study from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health found that for every hour and a half spent watching TV, fat in the abdominal area increased by 3 cubic centimeters.
The study consisted of examining over 3,000 middle-aged men and women by assessing their belly fat levels. In order to get the results they were asked how much time they spend doing various sedentary behaviours, such as reading a book, using a computer, talking or texting on the phone, sitting in a car, doing paper work and watching television.
The answers they received gave an indications to which activities caused an increase in belly fat and watching TV came out on top.
Kara Whitaker, who led the study said, “TV was the only sedentary behavior out of those six that was associated with belly fat. It’s really television time that seems to be driving this association with belly fat.”
Kara suggests that it’s the food adverts which are to blame, “Seeing those ads showing food can prime you to eat more later, which could affect your abdominal fat levels.”
