Binge-watching is not good for your waistline
ON-DEMAND services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are leaving no stone unturned to increase their Indian subscriber base. Their library of movies and shows forces you to binge-watch. So do TV channels with their marathons, but don’t let watching shows or movies back-to-back be the reason for your expanding waistline, warn experts.
Excessive screen time is a concern across the world, says Ramen Goel, Senior Bariatric Surgeon and Director, Centre of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgery, Wockhardt Hospitals.
“There are multiple associated health issues with people, especially the younger generation constantly glued to the phone, monitors or TV,” Goel told IANS. Subconscious eating while watching screenbased programmes is a fact.
“It is an accepted contributor to the obesity epidemic,” he said.
Sushant Wadhera, Advanced Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgeon in Venkateshwar Hospital, Dwarka, agrees that sitting idle for long in front of screens lowers the metabolism of the body.
“In fact, your body burns more calories while sleeping than while watching TV. Eating a lot of snacks like potato chips, junk food and consuming aerated drinks while watching TV... These high-calorific foods will make you obese,” he said.
Binge-viewing has affected all age groups. From children glued to their cartoon channels to housewives and elderly people watching their unending soaps, binge-watching has become common, feels Swapnil Jain, Endocrinologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurugram.
“Since almost all of the available time is being consumed in front of the screens, the only muscles getting exercise are probably the eyeballs. So, the mismatch of excessive calorie intake and binge-viewing is severely affecting the body metabolism leading to obesity,” added Jain.
The problem doesn’t end with obesity.
“Once they get obese, they develop diabetes, and heart and kidney problems much earlier in their lives. Technology also interferes with sleep,” said Manjunath Malige, Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, Fortis Hospital, Bengaluru.
Malige said once a 14-yearold boy became so obese that now he has pre-diabetes.
“The kid was addicted to gadgets. So, he was not involved in any physical activities,” said Malige.
Goel added: “Excessive screen time is believed to distract a person from the realities of life and many live in a make-believe world created by movie producers and game developers.
“It is believed to restrict time for family moments which is likely to result in stressed and disjointed families.”
So what can break the habit?
“Go for a walk or do things that you like doing such as cooking. Spend time with your family and friends. Make sure you do not eat while binge-watching,” said Goel. – IANS be done to