Limiting daily television viewing to one hour or less could reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular conditions, even in individuals genetically predisposed to Type 2 diabetes, new research suggests.
The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Heart Association, is one of the first to examine how genetic factors related to Type 2 diabetes interact with TV-watching habits in connection to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). ASCVD, which results from plaque buildup in the arteries, includes heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease.
"Type 2 diabetes and sedentary behaviors, like prolonged sitting, are significant risk factors for ASCVD," said Dr. Youngwon Kim, lead author and professor at The University of Hong Kong’s School of Public Health. "Since TV viewing contributes heavily to daily inactivity, it’s been consistently linked to a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Our study underscores the potential role of reducing TV time in preventing ASCVD, especially in those with a strong genetic predisposition to diabetes."
ASCVD leads to complications such as diminished quality of life, arterial procedures, amputations, and premature death. To explore the connection between TV habits and genetic risk for diabetes, researchers analyzed data from 346,916 adults, aged 56 on average, from a large UK-based biomedical database. Participants were monitored for nearly 14 years, with 21,265 developing ASCVD during the study period.
Genetic risk was assessed using polygenic risk scores, combining 138 genetic variants linked to Type 2 diabetes. Participants were categorized as having low, medium, or high genetic risk for the condition. Their TV habits were self-reported, with participants divided into groups based on whether they watched one hour or less of TV daily, or two or more hours.
Results showed that only 21% of participants limited their TV time to one hour or less. Those watching two or more hours of TV daily had a 12% higher risk of developing ASCVD, regardless of their genetic predisposition to diabetes. However, individuals with medium or high genetic risk who restricted their TV time to one hour or less did not show an increased likelihood of developing ASCVD.
Interestingly, people with low genetic risk who watched more than two hours of TV daily had a slightly higher 10-year ASCVD risk (2.46%) compared to those with high genetic risk who limited their TV time (2.13%).
"Reducing TV time could be a key behavioral strategy for preventing ASCVD, particularly in those genetically predisposed to Type 2 diabetes," said Dr. Mengyao Wang, study co-author. "Encouraging individuals, especially those at high genetic risk, to minimize TV time and adopt healthier habits could significantly benefit heart health."
Dr. Damon L. Swift, an associate professor at the University of Virginia’s Department of Kinesiology, who was not involved in the study, also supported these findings. "This research highlights the importance of lifestyle choices on health and adds to growing evidence that reducing sedentary behavior, such as TV viewing, can effectively improve cardiovascular health—particularly for those at elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes."
Source: UNB
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