The Effects of Television on Americans Health Essays

The Effects of Television on Americans Health Essays The Effects of Television on Americans Health Essay The Effects of Television on Americans Health Essay Televisions Effect on Health in American Culture Liberty University English Abstract Television has a detrimental effect on the health in American culture. Studies show that Americans view more than 151 hours of television a month or 5 hours or more a day. The lack of physical activity during that time is linked to the high obesity rate in America today. Children and adults alike are affected by obesity, which also lead to diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, different types of cancers, etc. n which are only a few of the diseases associated with obesity. Excessive television watching with no physical also leads to poor eating habits because of exposure to commercials on television advertising unhealthy foods. It is stated that children are the main targets of these commercials. Studies showed that children are exposed to more than 40,000 commercials a year, making them very vulnerable to these ads. Television has a very negative impact on the health of Americans. Watching television can be hazardous to your health.This fact has been confirmed by any studies that have been done for decades on children and adults. Television affects the health of Americans because excessive television watching causes less physical activity that leads to obesity due to poor eating habits associated with commercials advertising unhealthy foods. A person is considered obese when they have too much fat accumulation, causing their body weight to be 20% higher than normal (medical news today), w hich often occurs when a person sit for a long period of time watching television with no physical activity.The Nielsen Company reported hat at the end of 2008 the average person viewed overl 51 hours of television in a month, or 5 hours or more a day (Rosen, 2009), and those figures are even more extensive today. Televisions effect on the health of American society has been of great concern for decades. One of the main concerns is its strong link to the high obesity rate in America today. Research conducted at Harvard first linked television watching to obesity more than 25 years ago.Since then extensive research has confirmed the link between television viewing and obesity in children and adults Harvard School of Public Health, 2013, Para. 3). Additional studies show that for every extra two hours people spend watching television per day (over the 2 hours recommended), their chances of contracting type 2 diabetes rises 20%, and heart disease is raised by (Gardner, 2011). These ar e only a few diseases associated with obesity, others include, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, different types of cancer, liver and gall bladder disease etc.These diseases are increasing more and more each day and are no longer considered adult diseases, but children re being affected as well. Two studies that followed children from birth found that TV viewing in childhood predicts obesity risk well into adulthood and mid-life, especially with children with televisions in their bedrooms, which gained more weight than those that did not (Harvard School of Public Health, 2013).Nevertheless, many Americans do not realize the connection between watching television and obesity because it is considered one of Americas leading pass times, and is not believed to be harmful in any way. Most people consider it entertaining, others view t to relax, relieve depression, stress, and loneliness. Television does have some positive effects on the American culture, but very few studies have been found to show these effects. Some of these positive effects consist of shows and commercials that promote healthy living and eating habits.These include exercise programs that can be viewed throughout the day to help people incorporate a good fitness program into their busy schedules, commercials that advertise good healthy food choice, like menus. However, the majority of television commercials use beautiful models or amous actors to promote unhealthy food products, which camouflage the hidden dangers of eating these products and deceive people into thinking they can eat these unhealthy foods and look like the people that are in the ads. These ads affect children more than adults because they cannot differentiate between what is real and whats not.Dittmann (2004) stated that the average child is exposed to more than 40,000 TV commercials a year, and because children are the target of these commercials, and easily persuaded, after Just one exposure to a commercial, hildren can recall the ads content and have a desire for the product (Para. 19). Therefore, making it difficult for parents that try to encourage healthy eating habits, and because, most of these numerous commercials on television advertise Junk food, being exposed to these commercials cause individuals to prefer these foods over healthy ones.This exposure leads to mid-meals snacking, consumption of high fatty foods, and decrease in energy levels in adults as well as children (Dennison Laskoski, 2004), which are major contributor to the high obesity rate. For example, n todays society people can get almost everything fast. There are multiple fast food restaurants in every city. People are enjoying the convenience of not having to prepare meals whenever they choose. Families can run out and pick up a meal, bring it home and eat dinner while watching television.This is done several days a week because it is quick and inexpensive, unaware of the dangers that are associated with this simple pass time. Parents that should encourage decreased television time and monitoring what their children are watching are instead contributing to the problem ecause of their own inability to live a healthy lifestyle. Children perceive this as a normal way of life, causing this behavior to be passed down for generations to generation, which is a vicious cycle that has been handed down for decades.Adults and children alike are encouraged to incorporate some form of physical activity in their daily lives along with watching television, whether its walking, riding a bicycle, jogging, or Just adding some type of movement throughout the day to reduce their chances of contracting these diseases. Regardless of the knowledge that is seen and taught or studies that have been done on how to be healthy and remain healthy, Americans are still not taking heed to these warnings and are spending more and more time watching television and living sedentary lives, contributing to the already high obesity rate.Obesity does not discriminate it affects individuals of every ethnic background. Regardless to race, age, gender, and income or education level the statistics are found to be staggering. Therefore, there is an obesity epidemic in America because of the excessive amount of television Americans are watching. If excessive television watching is not decreased and substituted with some form of physical activity, the physical health of America will remain in Jeopardy for decades to come.The widespread of obesity will continue at an alarming rate, because of the unhealthy diets of Americans due to television commercials advertising unhealthy food Ounk food). television watching causes less physical activity that leads to unhealthy eating habits associated with commercials advertising unhealthy foods.Televisions Effect on the Health in Americans CultureI. Negative effects of Television on Health. A. Contribute to high obesity rate.1. Less physical activity.2. Poor eating habits3. Comm ercials advertising unhealthy foods.II. Links between excessive television watching and obesity confirmed.A. Americans watch 151 hours per day.1. 5 hours or more a day.2. Extra 2 hours per day.a. Type 2 diabetes risk increase 20%.b. Heart disease risk increase 15%.c. Causes high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, cancers, and liver and gall bladder diseases.III. Positive Effects of Television on Health.A. Commercials that promote Healthy Eating habits.1 . Advertise good healthy food choices.2. Subway restaurant (healthy meals).3. Healthy food choices on fast food menus.B. Television shows that promote health and fitness.IV. Solutions and prevention to the problem.A. Encourage physical activity.1. Walking daily.2. Bike riding.3. Jogging daily.4. Incorporate some type of movement throughout the day.V. Conclusion.A. Television is linked to the high obesity rate, because Americans are indulging in oo many unhealthy foods due to excessive television watching void of physical activi ty. References [Online image, boy watching tv eating chips]. Retrieved September 23, 2013 from cdc. gov/obesity/childhood/problems. html Dennison, B. , Laskovski, K. (2004).Television viewing and health: Encyclopedia of health and behavior 2, 791-793 Dittmann, M. (2004). Protecting children from advertising. 35 (6) p. 58 Retrieved from apa. org/monitor/Jun04/protecting. aspx. Garner, A. (2011).TV watching raises risk of health problems, dying young. Retrieved from cnn. om/2011/health/ 06/14/tv. watching. nhealthy/index. html Harvard School of Public Health (2013).The obesity prevention source: Television watching and sit time Retrieved from http:// www. hsph. harvard. edu/obesity-prevention-source/obesity-causes/television-and- sedentary-behavior-and-obesity/#Adult-TV-Viewing-and-ObesityMedical news today. Retrieved from medicalnewstoday. com/info/obesityRosen, D. (2009).Watching TV leads to obesity: The more TV you watch the fatter you become psychologytoday. com/blog/sleepingangels/200908/watc hing-tv-leads-to-obesity