Some of this mounting burden may be unavoidable as Americans get older, but much of it is not. More than half the nation's medical bill is lifestyle induced. We eat too much, drink too much, smoke too much and get far too little exercise. We are literally living ourselves sick, and television plays a large role in this downward spiral. This is an important battle.
Kids typically spend three hours a day in front of the tube, and adults even more.
Such numbers are well-known, but the implications often go unnoted. TV viewing is the principal source of inactivity, and inactivity has become a nationwide problem. It is related to obesity which is becoming a national norm. Over half of all Americans are overweight, and roughly a third are clinically obese. The percentage of overweight children aged 6-17 has doubled since 1968.