Break up binge-watching by taking a stand

By Genaro C. Armas, American Heart Association News

Westend61, Getty Images
(Westend61, Getty Images)

Lea en español

It's after midnight, well past your normal bedtime, and you're about to start watching your third straight episode of that police drama or classic comedy while sitting on the couch with a blanket.

Sounds like a cozy way to wind down the night. Just try not to do it for too long and too often, said Andrea LaCroix, distinguished professor and division chief of epidemiology at the University of California, San Diego.

"Is binge-watching bad? I'd like to say 'No, it's not bad,'" LaCroix said. "If you care about the cardiovascular effects on your long sitting, no matter what reason you're sitting for, it's just important to figure out the habit, or create the habit, of moving every now and then."

A January article in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology that reviewed three previous studies related to TV viewing found a similar conclusion: Longer periods of viewing may increase the risk of developing a blood clot.

Researching the health impact of binge-watching is so new that a 2020 article in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health that reviewed 28 earlier studies found no consensus definition of the term, other than "watching multiple episodes of a TV show in one sitting."

The key word might be "sitting," or doing too much of it. Blood clots can form when something slows or changes the flow of the blood.

After about an hour of sitting, blood and fluid start to pool in the legs, said Bethany Barone Gibbs, an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh who researches sedentary behavior and physical activity. Pooling leads to reduced flow and circulation, so blood pressure starts to rise to compensate to return blood back to the heart.

LaCroix was an author of a 2019 study in the American Heart Association journal Circulation that found both high amounts of sedentary time and longer durations of such time were associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in older women.

Another 2019 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that people who watch little or no TV and are highly active live about two and a half years longer free of coronary heart disease, stroke and heart failure than those who often watched TV and weren't active.

But viewing habits aren't likely to change anytime soon given the proliferation of streaming services and allure of all-you-can-view menus of multiple TV seasons. Streaming giant Netflix said in 2016 that members prefer to finish an entire season in one week instead of watching one episode a week.

More people turned to streaming when stay-at-home guidelines were issued at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic two years ago. According to a survey by Nielsen, the audience measurement company, the average cumulative amount of time people in the U.S. spent streaming each week during the second quarter of 2020 was 142.5 billion minutes, up from 81.7 billion minutes during the same period in 2019.

The solution, Gibbs said, is getting up and taking a break.

"You don't have to get rid of your TV. You just have to break up your television watching," Gibbs said. "Stand up and do the dishes, put a load of laundry away or pack your lunch. Do something!"

Researchers are studying the ideal amount of time to stay seated before taking a break. Gibbs suggested walking for a few minutes once an hour and setting reminders through a smartwatch or fitness tracker.

She also recommended setting a time to turn the screen off to preserve a good night's sleep and turning off the option on your streaming service to automatically play the next episode.

LaCroix recommended standing for intervals while watching TV or other typically stationary activities like talking on the phone. Drinking water or a cup of tea while watching also might help because eventually you will need to break up the binging with a trip to the bathroom.

"A lot of times, you get up and start doing something and you don't want to sit down right away," LaCroix said. "The hardest part is just changing posture."

If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].


American Heart Association News Stories

American Heart Association News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in American Heart Association News stories reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in American Heart Association scientific journals or presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the American Heart Association’s official guidance, policies or positions.

Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News.

Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Association’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.