New research suggests that limiting TV watching to just one hour a day could lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other blood vessel diseases, even for individuals with a high genetic predisposition to Type 2 diabetes. Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, this study is one of the first to explore how genetic risk factors for Type 2 diabetes interact with sedentary behaviors like television viewing in relation to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
“Type 2 diabetes and prolonged sitting, a major component of sedentary behavior like watching TV, are both significant risk factors for ASCVD,” explained Dr. Youngwon Kim, a professor at the University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health, and the study’s lead author. “Our findings provide new insights into how limiting TV time may help prevent ASCVD, especially in individuals genetically predisposed to Type 2 diabetes.”
ASCVD, which includes heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease, can lead to severe health complications such as reduced quality of life, bypass surgery, amputations, and premature death.
The study analyzed data from over 346,000 adults in the United Kingdom, using genetic, lifestyle, and medical records to examine the impact of TV viewing habits on ASCVD risk. Participants, with an average age of 56, were followed for nearly 14 years. During this period, 21,265 individuals developed ASCVD.
Polygenic risk scores, which aggregate information from multiple genetic variants, were calculated based on 138 genetic variants linked to Type 2 diabetes. Participants were categorized into low, medium, or high genetic risk groups. Researchers also used self-reported questionnaires to determine daily TV watching habits, dividing participants into those who watched one hour or less of TV daily and those who watched two or more hours.
Results showed that 21% of participants watched TV for one hour or less each day, while the remaining 79% watched for two or more hours. Those who spent more than two hours a day in front of the TV had a 12% higher risk of developing ASCVD compared to those who watched less, regardless of their genetic risk for Type 2 diabetes. However, individuals with medium to high genetic risk who limited their TV time to one hour or less per day did not face an elevated ASCVD risk.
Interestingly, individuals with a low genetic risk for Type 2 diabetes who watched more than two hours of TV each day had a slightly higher ASCVD risk (2.46%) over the next 10 years than those with high genetic risk who kept TV time to one hour or less (2.13%).
“This suggests that reducing TV time could be an effective behavioral strategy for preventing ASCVD, especially for those with a high genetic risk for Type 2 diabetes,” said Dr. Mengyao Wang, co-author of the study.
Dr. Damon L. Swift, an associate professor at the University of Virginia, highlighted the broader implications of the study, noting that reducing sedentary behavior could benefit people with varying genetic risks for Type 2 diabetes. “These findings emphasize the role of lifestyle choices in improving health outcomes, particularly for those with Type 2 diabetes, who are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.”
The study calls for future public health efforts to encourage reduced screen time and promote healthier lifestyles, especially for those at a higher genetic risk of Type 2 diabetes.
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