How to watch TV, without increasing your risk of developing diabetes

People who log more hours in front of the television are at greater risk of dying, or developing diabetes and heart disease, a new study suggests. “The message is simple,” says study author Dr. Frank Hu. “Cutting back on TV watching is an important way to reduce sedentary behaviors and decrease risk of diabetes and heart disease.”

Here are my two suggestions to address this problem:

1) The combination of TV’s image and sound creates a hypnotic brew that few can resist. My brother turned me on to this—turn the sound down (and perhaps play music of your choice) and just watch the picture. Your brain will have a chance of remaining alert, and you’ll avoid being sucked in, and if you’re paying attention you’ll be delighted by occasional synchronicities between what’s on the screen and what the music’s doing. You don’t have to sit there and stare, it will just become part of the ambience, in the way most people have music on without sitting down and really listening.

2) Watch TV standing up, preferably while doing some sort of movement or stretching instead of eating unhealthy foods. Not only will you be less sedentary, but you’ll get tired and decide, no doubt before you’ve hit the two hour danger mark, to go and do something else.

For more information, visit turnoffyourtv.com