Final answer:
Excessive TV watching has been negatively linked to lower academic performance, reduced physical activity, and diminished social interactions. Students who watch TV in excess, especially before exams, tend to perform worse academically.
Step-by-step explanation:
Watching television has been associated with a number of negative outcomes, especially when it comes to children and adolescents. Research has indicated a negative correlation between the number of hours spent watching TV and several aspects of a young person's life. When considering the options provided, numerous studies have demonstrated that excessive television watching can lead to reduced levels of physical activity, diminished social interactions, and lower academic performance, with a particular impact on exam results.
Particularly, too much television time can interfere with studying and homework, leading to poorer academic achievement. Furthermore, it has been linked with increased sedentary behavior, reducing the time spent engaging in physical activities. This sedentary lifestyle can have broader health consequences beyond the scope of physical fitness. Also, television viewing can replace time that might otherwise be spent on social interactions, which are critical for the development of social skills, especially in children and adolescents.
While 'smart students watch less television' is an oversimplified statement, it does capture the essence that well-performing students tend to manage their time effectively, dedicating more time to their studies and less to passive activities like watching TV. Additionally, leisure activities like television viewing have grown more sedentary with the advancement of technology, supplanting more active forms of recreation. This transition has contributed to a shift in how young people spend their leisure time, potentially affecting their physical and social well-being.