Wellnews by Scott LaFee

It's easy to assume that if folks watch less TV, they naturally become healthier, spending more time exercising or eating better.

That's not necessarily true.

A recent University of Vermont study of men and women who were overweight or obese found that when their normal TV viewing hours were dramatically slashed, the participants' calorie consumption and sleep habits did not change. On the other hand, they burned more calories per day, about 120 more than a control group that continued to watch as much TV as always.

The extra calories burned did not generally come from exercise. A few participants reported walking their dogs more or taking a yoga class, but most of energy spent came from doing ordinary activities, such as reading more, playing board games with children or doing household chores. The researchers concluded that even minor changes in daily activity levels could produce measurable effects. They estimated that the folks who watched less TV and simply moved around more added the equivalent of walking about 8 miles a week.

The control group, meanwhile, became fatter and more sedentary, burning 100 fewer calories than before the experiment began.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

Newborns cry in their mother tongue.

GET ME THAT. STAT!

In a recent survey, seven of 10 Americans said they would like to die at home. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, only one in four Americans actually do.

NUMBER CRUNCHER

A ham and cheese sandwich (146 grams) contains 352 calories, 139 from fat.

It has 15.5 grams of total fat or 24 percent of the recommended total fat intake for a 2,000-calorie daily diet. It also contains 58 milligrams of cholesterol (19 percent); 771 mg of sodium (32 percent); 33.3 grams of total carbohydrates (11 percent) and 20.7 grams of protein.

LIFE IN BIG MACS

One hour of talking on the phone burns 122 calories (based on a 150-pound person) or the equivalent of 0.2 Big Macs with cheese.

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Hellenologophobia — fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology

BEST MEDICINE

A doctor put a stethoscope to a patient's chest.

The patient said: "Doc, how do I stand?"

The doctor replied: "That's what puzzles me."

OBSERVATION

Cocaine isn't habit-forming. I should know. I've been using it for years.

— Actress and bon vivant Tallulah Bankhead (1902-1968). Bankhead died of pneumonia, complicated by emphysema. Her last coherent words were "codeine ... bourbon."

MEDTRONICA

Eat right

eatright.org

If mom isn't around for guidance, this isn't a bad place to go for a healthy discussion of food and diet. Sponsored by the American Dietetic Association, there is a free public area containing diet reviews, news on food allergies, food-related diseases and more. A paid membership buys access to blogs, forums and online webinars.

EPITAPHS

The wedding day appointed was,

The wedding clothes provided.

But ere the day did come, alas,

He sickened, and he dieded.

— Gravestone in Devon, England

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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