Watching Television May Wreck Your Diet

Are you like many other people who spend hours every day glued to your television? If so, chances are that you do not have the healthiest diet or eating habits. Professors at Loughborough University from the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences found in a study that there is a definite link between unhealthy diets and watching too much television. We’ve heard many times throughout the years that watching too much television is not good for our health, and now scientists are actually confirming this.

No One is Immune

One of the biggest complaints many parents have these days is the fact that their children are not getting enough exercise, and that they are not eating right. This could have something to do with the amount of television that they are watching. This does not mean that it is just children who watch a lot of television have unhealthy diets. Anyone who spends many hours in front of their televisions is risking poor health, whether they are children, adolescents or adults.

Why?

One of the biggest reasons why many people who watch a lot of television don’t usually have healthy diets is because they tend to snack. It is all too easy to sit around munching on unhealthy treats such as potato chips, chocolate bars and soda, which many of us do while we are watching a program or movie. Some of the most popular TV snacks include:

• Potato Chips
• Popcorn
• Nachos
• Pizza
• Soda
• Candy
• Pretzels
• Chocolate

Now, it is fine to have any of these foods, as long as they are eaten in moderation. Unfortunately, many people who are snacking and watching television tend to keep on snacking throughout the entire program or programs they are watching. Even worse is the fact that in addition to not eating healthy, too much time in front of the television means not enough time getting out and being active, which we all need to do every day.

Commercials Don’t Help

You may not be the least bit hungry, but when you are watching television and see commercials for junk food, you are probably going to start craving these foods, and even if you are trying to be careful about what you eat, you may end up munching on unhealthy snacks anyway, just because they are there, or because you have seen a commercial and you want them.

No one is saying that you can’t spend as much time as you like watching television. What scientists are saying is that if you are not eating the right foods, it is going to affect your health, and not in a good way. If you do watch a lot of television, and you feel the urge to snack, keep a lot of healthy snacks nearby, such as unsalted and unbuttered popcorn, fruits and vegetables, milk, water and juice. This way, you will satisfy your urge to eat, without adding too many unhealthy foods to your diet.