Popular activities that use high-speed internet, such as binge-watching shows on streaming platforms and playing online games, could be contributing to rising obesity rates among Australians, according to a new study.
Published in Economics & Human Biologythe study, carried out in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and RMIT University (Australia), analyzed data from the HILDA (Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia) survey for the period 2006-2019 to examine the impact of high-speed internet access on obesity.
Obesity increases the risk of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes. In 2022, almost two-thirds (65.8%) of Australian adults were overweight or obese.
Australia’s obesity epidemic also has a significant economic and financial impact. In 2018, obesity cost Australians $11.8 billion, and by 2032, this is projected to reach $87.7 billion.
Dr. Klaus Ackermann, lead author of the study, from the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics and SoDa Labs at Monash Business School (Australia), found that sedentary behavior and reduced physical activity are mechanisms by which high-speed Internet access influences obesity .
Here’s how high-speed internet can lead to obesity!
“Access to high-speed Internet decreases the likelihood that people will achieve the minimum physical activity recommendation proposed by the WHO. Thus, people become more inactive and adopt a sedentary behavior. Sedentary behavior is encouraged by the need to stay online for longer periods, which lowers metabolic rate and contributes to obesity. This effect is aggravated by the habit of frequent snacking while using the computer, which increases daily calorie intake,” explains Dr. Ackermann.
Moreover, access to the Internet allows for the quick purchase of goods and services, thus reducing the need to perform certain activities in person. Electronic communications also reduce the need to meet family and friends in person, which limits opportunities for physical activity.
“While high-speed Internet has become an essential service, this study demonstrates a strong link between increased Internet addiction and unhealthy sedentary behavior,” Ackermann said.
How can this effect be counteracted?
The research team found that a 1% increase in the rate of adoption of the National Broadband Internet Network (NBN) is associated with an increase in the prevalence of obesity, increasing body mass index (BMI) by 1.57 kg/m on average2 and the prevalence of obesity by 6.6%. This suggests a decrease in time spent in activities that stimulate the metabolism, notes Medical Xpress.
“Given that high-speed Internet access increases the prevalence of obesity through sedentary behavior, our results suggest that policies to promote awareness of the negative implications of sedentary behavior are important,” emphasized Dr. Ackermann.
“One way would be to create campaigns that highlight the risk of increased sedentary behavior with internet access, which could motivate people to take breaks between screen time to reduce sedentary behavior and engage in physical activity,” says the researcher.
These public health campaigns could encourage doing certain activities in person instead of accessing goods and services online. Also, public health campaigns promoting short but intense physical activity could be useful for those with busy lifestyles who only have limited time at their disposal, concluded Dr. Ackermann.
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Source: www.descopera.ro
