New research has found a link between high-speed internet activity and rising obesity rates in Australia.
Sedentary internet activities such as online gaming and binge-watching on streaming platforms are increasing obesity in Australia, according to a study published on Monday.
“Access to a high-speed Internet connection reduces the likelihood of individuals meeting the minimum physical activity recommendation proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO),” said study senior author Klaus Ackermann from Monash University in Melbourne.
A research team from Monash University, the University of Melbourne, and RMIT University used data from the Comprehensive Household, Income and Labor Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey covering the period 2006-2019 to explore the impact of high-speed internet on obesity. analyzed the .
They found that a one percent increase in the rate of adoption of the National Broadband Network (NBN) was associated with an increase in the prevalence of obesity, the news agency reported.
Ackerman said that the problem of sedentary behavior while engaging in high-speed Internet activities is exacerbated by the frequent consumption of snacks while doing so.
In addition, he said that the Internet has enabled ease of access to goods and services, reduced the need to physically work, and reduced the need to meet with friends and family in person. .