TV-Watching Linked to Higher Risk of Mobility Disability

Studies show that increased TV-Watching is linked to higher risk of mobility disability issues in older adults.

Children are encouraged to get out from behind the screen and go outside. It’s known that kids need exercise to stay healthy and that “getting fresh air” is good for them. However, sometimes that mindset is lost as people get older. A recent study shows that increased TV-watching increases the risk of mobility disabilities in older adults. An article in PTinMotion states that “adults 50-71 who spend more than 5 hours a day watching television and fewer than 2 hours a week being physically active triple their chances of experiencing a mobility disability at some point in the future.” A mobility disability refers to any time a person reports an inability to walk or only being able to walk and at an “easy” pace.

• The study found that not only is the issue in the sedentary time spent watching TV, but also in the time spent in physical activity.
• Chances of mobility disability drastically and progressively decreased with a higher amount and intensity of physical activities.
• The study found that those who reported 7 hours or more hours of physical activity in a week paired with 6 hours of sitting in a day did not see an increase in the risk of mobility disability.
• If the hours spent watching TV increased and time spent doing physical activities does not change, those chances increase again.

Lead author of the study, Loretta DiPietro, PhD, MPH, said that “Sitting and watching TV for long periods, especially in the evening, has got to be one of the most dangerous things that older people can do.” Sitting down to watch a show, the news, or movie is often an uninterrupted event as opposed to other types of sedentary sitting, like working at a computer or desk where there is often breaks to walk around and do something other than sit still.

Although Current US public health recommendations regarding physical activity do not address the sedentary time paired with the active time, physical therapists and doctors alike recommend increasing physical activity time with safe exercises and decreasing TV-watching time for best results in fending off mobility disabilities.

Original info from http://www.apta.org/PTinMotion/News/2017/9/6/TVWatchingMobilityDisability/

Tags: Adult health, dangers, disability, Exercise, Health, health risks, mobility, older adults, Physical activity, risks, sedentary, senior health, TV