A new study suggests that young adults who watch a lot of TV and engage in very little exercise are not only risking obesity because as they get older, their brains may be getting out of shape too.
The study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry observed more than 3,000 people.
Those who watched the most TV and got the least physical activity were the most likely to get low scores on some of the thinking tests.
The study has shown that exercise improves brain cell connections and has other direct brain benefits. It also likely helps the brain by helping the heart and increasing blood flow.
The researchers recommended that sitting to engage in a mentally challenging video game (or to read a book) might not be as bad for the brain as sitting to passively watch TV.