Binge-watching TV shows can lead to an increased risk of dying from inflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer's and diabetes, according to new research.

The study of more than 8900 adults, published in the journal of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, found each additional hour of TV viewing was associated with a 12% increased risk of inflammatory-related death.

The study began in 1999, when researchers at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne quizzed adult participants about their viewing habits.

Back then, people who spent the most time watching TV were older, less likely to have completed Year 12, had a lower income and were more likely to be smokers.

However, the rise of streaming apps like Netflix and Stan in recent years have caused a spike in binge-watching habits among a younger, better educated and healthier generation - meaning millennials could face serious health risks in years to come.

The researchers observed a 54% higher risk of inflammatory-related death in those who watched between two to four hours of TV a day.