The new fad of 'binge watching' TV shows on streaming services like Netflix can increase your risk of death, according to new research, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Dr. John Higgins, Sports cardiologist with the McGovern Medical School at U.T. Health in Houston says researchers in Australia have determined that every extra hour a day that you watch leads to a 12% higher risk of death.
"People who spend more and more time in the front of televisions, are going to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality," Dr. Higgins said.
The reasons for this are two fold, Dr. Higgins says.First of all, a week spent sitting on the couch watching every episode of the latest season of 'Orange is the New Black' is a weekend where you don't get any other type of exercise.
"They are actually watching the entire season, so they are spending a whole day, or even a whole weekend, sitting down watching their shows."
And he says while that is taking place, you are probably not getting the best diet as well."
They tend to be overeating more high calorie food, drinking more alcohol, which is going to put on the weight, which will lead to weight gain," he said. "That leads to a greater likelihood of diabetes, a greater likelihood of weight gain, and they are also not getting outside and having and sunlight for exercise."
Dr. Higgins says researchers have found that spending a weekend binge watching is also related to a higher incidence of kidney and liver disease, as well as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
He says binge watching is the 'absolutely worst thing we can do' for our health.