Health Tip

July 4, 2001

TV Stupor

Television watching produces a unique metabolic state, writes author David Bodanis.

The TV viewer's eyes remain busy constantly scanning, while the rest of the body is slowing.

"Pulse and temperature and muscle tension all decrease in the average viewer to a level that steadies at 13 percent down from even just ordinary sitting," says Bodanis in his book, The Secret Family.

"Any truly intent TV watcher will soon be in the extraordinary position -- as psychological measures will confirm -- of burning fewer calories than if he were doing nothing at all!" says Bodanis.

Because the eye muscles don't join the general slowdown, Bodanis describes the condition as a waking dream.

-- Anonymous, July 04, 2001

Answers

Must be why we are inundated with so many commercial breaks, to give us a chance to revive (or at least to pick up the remote if the program was taped).

-- Anonymous, July 05, 2001