• Watching too much TV can lead to poor mental and physical health.zaping image by nathan from Fotolia.com
  
  Watching television has become the top pastime for millions of people, and Americans are now viewing more TV than ever, according to the LA Times. While catching a favorite program is fun, it's important to limit television intake (especially for kids) for the benefit of mental and physical health. Hours in front of the boob tube could be spent exercising, playing, learning and partaking in more valuable activities, benefiting young and old alike.
  
  

Blood Pressure Spikes in Children

• Children who watch excessive TV may have higher blood pressure.blood pressure manometer studio isolated image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
  
  According to Time magazine, a health study in the United States and Spain showed that watching television causes the blood pressure of children to rise. The negative effects seen in the study were more pronounced than when kids engages in similar activities, like using a computer or reading, and were the same regardless of weight. Dr. Joey Eisenmann of Michigan State University stated the "results show that sedentary behavior, and more specifically television-viewing, is related to blood pressure independent of body fat or obesity level" and kids who viewed 90 to 330 minutes of TV a day had blood pressure levels 5 to 7 points higher than those who watched less than 30 minutes.
  
  

Preventing Developmental Activities

• TV can interfere with playtime for small children, to their detriment.baby reaching for remote control image by jedphoto from Fotolia.com
  
  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children under the age of 2 should not watch any television whatsoever, as it may impede mental development. The first years of life are a vital time for brain development and Kids Health states that activities like playing, exploring and interacting with others "encourage learning and healthy physical and social development." Children who are distracted by television will not get enough of these experiences, which can impact them negatively.
  
  

Sedentary Lifestyle and Associated Risks

• Too much sitting in front of the television can cause muscles to weaken.Watch television image by Marina Bartel from Fotolia.com
  
  Adults who watch too much television risk becoming inactive, leading a sedentary lifestyle, which comes with many health risks. According to Women's Health, when sitting for long periods, the body's metabolism and circulation slows and people burn fewer calories. For every two hours spent sitting each day, the chance of developing diabetes increases 7 percent. Muscles supporting the back become stiff and weak due to inactivity, which can contribute to chronic pain and make people more prone to injury.
  
  

Wasted Time

• Hours of valuable time is wasted in front of the TV.clock image by Clark Duffy from Fotolia.com
  
  The Nielsen Co., the company behind US television ratings, states the average American spends more than 151 hours a month watching TV, more than 6 days in total. While watching favorite programs can be fun, this is valuable time wasted that could be spent on more meaningful pursuits. Instead of crashing in front of the tube, viewers could use the time to improve their health by exercising or spend it bonding with their family over various activities. The civic minded could use the time to volunteer for a worthy cause and others could use to make home repairs to practice a rewarding hobby and so on.