Off the Couch

The extrapolation of the data is a bit much but the main point doesn't change.  This would make for a good New Year's resolution for the couch potatoes of the world.

From MSNBC...

Watching an hour of TV after the age of 25 can shorten the viewer's life by just under 22 minutes, according to researchers in Australia. 

Smoking two cigarettes has approximately the same effect. 

The problem is not actually TV itself but the lack of activity by the viewer for long periods, the researches said. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, excess weight and other health problems are associated with a sedentary lifestyle. 

Meanwhile, a large study in Taiwan found that doing just 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day might add three years to your life.

Off to climb close to 500 steps.