It turns out your mom was right, after all. Watching too much television is bad for your health, so if you're prone to sitting on the sofa for hours on end, it might be time to reconsider your lifestyle choices.

With reference to medical research, here are some of the reasons why too much time in front of the box is tough on your body. And no, we aren't talking about getting square eyes, although eye strain is a real possibility if you're glued to your box sets.

#1: You are shortening your lifespan

According to an article in Medical News Today, sitting for long periods of time can lead to blood clotting in your legs, and this can lead to the potentially dangerous condition DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis). According to research, around 10-30% of adults die within a month after being diagnosed with the condition. Yikes!Of course, a sedentary lifestyle can bring you into contact with other health issues, such as increased blood pressure, heart disease,and certain types of cancer. Obesity can become a problem if snacking in front of the box, and this is compounded by the lack of physical exercise. These issues can all contribute to the shortening of a person's lifespan, so be warned: while you might choose to spend hours glued to The Good Place with your Netflix subscription; you might actually find yourself in the 'good place' yourself sooner than expected if you continue to spend hours at a time sitting on the sofa.

#2: You raise the risk of Alzheimer's and Dementia

Do you remember when your mom told you "too much television will rot your brain?" It turns out that she was partially correct, as a lack of physical activity can mess with your cognitive functions, placing you at risk of developing brain-related conditions, such as dementia and Alzheimer's.According to a study from the Northern Carolina Institute for Research and Education, those people who watch at least four hours of television a day are more likely to suffer from poor cognitive ability by the time they reach middle age, leading to symptoms of these conditions. The good news for you, however, is this. Because conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's develop over time, reducing your sedentary lifestyle now might have a positive impact on your long-term cognitive health. Better late than never, right?

#3: You are harming your sleep pattern

It's probably no surprise to you that watching television before you go to bed is bad for your sleep. That 'just one more' mindset we get from watching our favorite box sets can reduce the amount of time we actually get to spend in bed. And as stated in this article, with reference to research from the University of Michigan, late-night binge-watching can also lead to higher fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia.A lack of sleep is detrimental to our health in other ways. It can lead to increased stress, as we won't have the capacity to manage our stressors in an effective way. It can weaken our immune symptoms, meaning we are more likely to fall prey to sickness bugs and infections. And it can increase the risk of serious health conditions, such as heart disease and type-2 diabetes. Turn off the television at least an hour before you go to bed then, and do something else with your time, such as read a book (remember them?) to ensure you drift off into la-la land sooner and get a better night's sleep!

Finally

As with everything else in your life, practice moderation. There is a lot of good stuff on television these days, but there is more to life than the virtual worlds we see on our screens. Our advice is this: schedule time in the day to watch the box, but don't forget to engage in some kind of physical activity during the day for the benefit of your long-term health. You will never get to the end of your favorite shows otherwise, as you might be too unwell to actually watch them!
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