Lazaros G, et al. - Researchers assessed the association between television (TV) watching, as a sedentary behavior pattern, and cardiovascular disease burden in this cross-sectional epidemiological study involving 2,043 individuals residing in the Corinthia region of Greece. The investigators measured carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and average (meanIMT) and maximum thickness (maxIMT). They also assessed physical activity using the self-reported International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). For each participant, the average hours per week spent on watching TV, videos, or DVD were determined. Low (≤ 7 hours/week), moderate (7 ˃ TV hours/week ≤ 21), and high (˃ 21 hours/week) TV-viewing time groups were defined. In the low TV-viewing time group vs the moderate- and high-TV viewing time groups, lower prevalence of carotid atheromatic plaque was observed. Even after adjustment for age, BMI, cardiovascular risk factors, or history of cardiovascular disease, increased carotid IMT (P=0.03) and the prevalence of carotid atheromatic plaque were observed in relation to TV viewing time. Those in the high-TV viewing time group were found to have 80% increase odds of carotid atheromatic plaque vs those in the low-TV viewing time group.