Binge-watching series is a common behavior these days, especially among those who enjoy checking out new releases. streaming platforms. Spending hours in front of the TV, however, can carry some risks that need to be taken into consideration.
Also known as “binge-watching”, the act of frequently binge-watching series, movies and cartoons is harmful to health. When talking about potential risks, in this case, be aware that they are numerous and severe.
To help you reflect on this situation, we will show you 10 direct consequences that can affect those who spend a good part of their day in front of the TV. Are you curious to know? Follow along!
Risks generated by the habit of binge-watching series
Be aware of the dangers of spending hours in front of the TV! – Photo: Reproduction
1. Get addicted
Do you get anxious for new content to arrive? Or are you dying for a certain series to premiere soon? And when this happens, do you binge-watch everything in one go? These are signs that you may have developed an addiction.
Psychology PhD Renee Carr explains that when a person binge-watches a favorite show, their brain starts producing dopamine and the body experiences a sensation similar to that of drug use.
2. Effect on health
It is unlikely that a person will binge-watch a series while doing physical exercise, for example.
This is usually done in the comfort of one’s home, lying on the sofa or in bed, with food or drink at hand. We are therefore talking about sedentary leisure activities, which can lead to health problems.
3. Metabolic syndromes
Sitting for long periods of time can increase the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which can increase the risk of stroke and heart diseases.
4. Weight gain
It has been proven that, when watching something or being entertained by TV, the chance of eating without realizing it is much greater.
People tend to lose the satiety signals that the body emits and this can directly influence weight gain.
5. Vision problems
Spending hours in front of screens can cause eye strain and symptoms such as headaches, eye strain and fatigue.
One way to reduce these effects is to keep the TV room dimly lit or to take breaks between episodes.
6. Disturbed sleep
Generally, the time left over to binge-watch TV shows is at night, especially for those who work during the day.
This stimulation before bedtime harms the quality of sleep, since, as already mentioned, it releases dopamine in the brain and generates excitement in the nervous system. The chance of developing insomnia is tall.
7. Mental health problems
Binge-watching is also associated with mental health problems.
A UK study found that people aged 18 to 24 were three times more likely to feel depressed after watching a programme and twice as likely to feel anxious.
8. Back pain
Spending hours on the couch, sitting or lying in awkward positions, can cause serious back problems. It’s a good idea to be aware of this while you’re young, so you don’t have to deal with severe back pain as you get older.
9′ Risk of bowel cancer
A University of Oxfordin partnership with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, discovered that men who spend four or more hours binge-watching TV are 35% more likely to develop bowel cancer, when compared with those who watch for less than an hour a day.
10. Skin damage
The negative impacts also reach the skin, causing premature aging. This occurs because people are exposed to high-energy visible light (or HEV light), usually emitted by television and phone screens.
This type of light is able to penetrate deep layers of the skin and affect the MMP-1 enzyme.