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The health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle are very well known. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, mental health problems and cancer were all linked to the suboptimal levels of physical activity.
But the new research published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that the problem is even greater than we thought. The harm created by long hours spent sitting in the office in front of the computer or at home in front of the television cannot be fully compensated for by going to the gym or cycling to work.
The process of prolonged sitting creates havoc with our metabolism by gradually causing changes in our blood pressure, sugar level and fat breakdown. The negative effects are seen even in people who consider themselves fit.
These effects are closely linked to the lack of movement associated with modern jobs. Most office work involves sitting for the most of the day. Almost 80% of office workers believe that they are sitting too much and that this affects their health. As a matter of fact, around 40% of office workers spend less than 30 minutes on their feet when they are at work.
Prolonged sitting during office hours is a major contributor to health problems
Avoiding the prolonged periods of sitting can be a simple and effective solution to the problem. There are many activities in the office that can be done while standing. This includes talking on the phone, going to talk to colleagues instead of emailing them, and eating lunch away from the desk.
Researchers estimate that simply by standing for 30 extra minutes each day anyone can lose up to 2.4 kg of fat a year. Our body burns an additional 50 calories an hour when we stand compared to when we sit.
Summary
Sedentary lifestyle is associated with multiple health problems. New research data show that long periods of inactivity associated with sitting during office hours is one of the major contributors to the problem.
Reference
- Aviroop Biswas, Paul I. Oh, Guy E. Faulkner et al. (2015) Sedentary Time and Its Association With Risk for Disease Incidence, Mortality, and Hospitalization in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Ann Intern Med 162(2): 123-132.
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