Oh dear, internet readers. We could be in some serious trouble if new research from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology is to be believed.

A study has found that spending four extra-curricular hours or more in front of a screen per day increases the risk of heart attack and stroke by 113 per cent, with the risk of death from either condition upped by almost 50 per cent.

This could be bad news for anyone who flops in front of the TV, games or surfs the web for fun after work.

Och aye the noo

The four-year study analysed 4,500 Scottish adults, who – call us cynical – aren't necessarily the healthiest of possible participants (deep-fried Mars Bar anyone? Haggis? A wee dram o' whisky?).

The applicants were questioned about how much time they spent in front of a TV, computer or gaming screen when not at work, then researchers analysed their medical records for four years.

Too much sitting about

The report's lead author, Emmanuel Stamatakis of the Department, in fact suggests that the problems actually arise from doing too much sitting, which isn't really a screen-specific activity.

"Assuming that leisure-time screen time is a representative indicator of overall sitting, our results lend support to the idea that prolonged sitting is linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and premature mortality."

Surely we can just pop to the gym at lunchtime and all will be well? Sadly not, as Stamatakis puts paid to that particular plan:

"Doing some exercise every day may not compensate for the damage done during very long periods of screen time."

Bother. Looks like we might be in the market for one of those stand-up desks, then – if it's not already too late...

http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of- ... ave-921043

Haven't read the report, but if the article's anything to go by, that study was delivered by failboat...

Does this then mean that any person required to sit in front of a computer for more than four hours a day at work have the same problem? Previous jobs have seen me sitting at a desk for at least six hours in a day...

I think the research can be summarised: "people who sit on their arses all day are not as fit as people who are more active".

It's the children of today who are the biggest worry; playing with their consoles and PCs rather than fighting and falling off things like they're meant to be.

Well they could be required to have much more in the way of mandatory breaks so you get away from the screen.

I should be dead by next Tuesday then.

technically I should have died in about 2005 then

So most of the forumites must be zombies then?

Braaaaiiinnzzzz.....

...which usually involves sitting the canteen having a coffee....

Or outside having a cigarette.