The season is changing here in Fayetteville AR, and that might mean more TV in your life: football games, holiday specials, cozy DVD nights with family, rainy afternoons watching old movies.

Does TV have effects on your health in Fayetteville AR?

The average American may watch as much as four hours of TV a day, and yes, it does seem to have health consequences. The American Heart Association reported some sobering connections between excessive TV watching and long-term health.

In a study of 8,800 adults, researchers found a big difference between people who watched the typical four hours and those who watched less than two. The high volume watchers had an 80% higher chance of death from heart disease, and higher chances of death from all causes. A study in the UK claimed that every additional hour of TV watching in a day meant 22 minutes less on the watcher's lifespan.

What's so rough about TV?

The top guess is that people sit while watching TV. Researchers at Stanford reported years ago that sitting appears to be bad for health, and a recent review of studies confirms it. Our bodies just aren't designed to sit for long periods of time. Spending hours in a chair at work and then coming home to spend more hours sitting on the sofa in front of the TV leads to physical problems, even if we exercise for an hour in between the two sedentary bouts.

While sitting too much is associated with diabetes, heart disease, and other health issues, a lack of exercise leads to a whole set of physical problems. People who spend four hours a night watching the box aren't spending those four hours gardening, dancing, or playing tennis. Simple math makes it more likely that people who sleep for eight hours, work for eight hours, commute for another hour (probably sitting), and then spend four hours watching TV aren't finding an hour a day for exercise. They have to find some time in the remaining 3.5 hours to shower, dress, and eat.

Of course, some people eat in front of the TV. Commercials featuring improbably delectable double bacon cheeseburgers and happy people downing beers glistening chicken wings don't usually lead to balanced meals, and watching TV leads many people to mindless snacking. These are factors thought to explain the strong connection between TV watching and obesity.

Next time you're about to plop down on the couch and give the remote a workout, consider taking the dog for a walk, playing ball with your kid, or biking with a friend instead. Make an exception for the Great Pumpkin, perhaps, but cut back. You might find that you don't miss it.