Netflix Makes You Fat

In this timely episode I look at the current state of poor physical and mental health, as a result of habitual watching of tv streaming channels....in this case NETFLIX.

Let's consider the following statistics, regarding Netflix subscribers.

The current average UK subscription costs £9.50 per month, equating to £114 per year. Given the average unbroken subscription time of 4 years, this stands at £455 minimum, rising higher as the costs will inevitably increase.

Now, the average watch time sits at 1.5 hours per day, equating to 546 hours per year.

This is separate from additional sedentary time spent watching other streaming channels, of which often households are locked in to at least one more (Amazon, Disney, Sky, HBO, Paramount, HULU) to name a few.

Consider the calories consumed whilst binge watching Netflix and you have a slow but guaranteed health decline, by way of excess weight gain, increased body fat levels, increased visceral fat, decreased muscle mass, decreased skeletal strength poor posture, poor eyesight and low levels of natural serotonin.

If we invested the lost time and money to Netflix and spent it exercising, sleeping well, learning new healthy cooking skills and enjoying the great outdoors, we would become healthier, fitter, stronger and possibly 'happier'.

What's not to like? Well Netflix is far easier to start and become addicted to, as the company spends millions on tracking our watching habits and therefore gives us more of what the algorithms suggest.

Starting to walk everyday, swim, lift weights, cook healthy meals and go to bed earlier is far more daunting than the 60 seconds it takes to download Netflix and subsequently there is the instant gratification of watching a 24 hour supply of tv, compared to the time served, long process of losing excess weight and improving our diets.

My advice as a professional personal trainer is to take some time out from watching tv subscriptions and do what it takes to get yourself fit and healthy.....THEN, when you have achieved your goals, perhaps go back and enjoy a Saturday night movie with your loved ones.

Watch the full episode on YouTube.Listen on Spotify or Amazon Music

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Thanks for listening.