Study Shows Sitting Less is Key to Longevity
Many times in the past, we have heard experts say that a sedentary lifestyle increases our risk of developing certain diseases, including obesity and cardiovascular problems. Though the claims are backed by quite a handful of studies, many of us still can’t keep the advice by heart.
Recently, a new study featured on the Medical Daily reveals that watching TV for less than two hours a day can increase life expectancy by more than a year. Researchers, Peter Katzmarzyk and I-Min Lee, collected data from various studies done on sedentary behaviour and life expectancy and found that extended sitting time and TV viewing may potentially contribute to reduced life expectancy in the United States.
While the researchers do not conclude that anybody who watches television for more than 2 hours a day will die sooner than someone who is more active, health experts agree that the findings simply suggest the association between sedentary behavior and a shorter life expectancy.
“Given that the results from objective monitoring of sedentary time in NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) has indicated that adults spend an average of 55% of their day engaged in sedentary pursuits, a significant shift in behavior change at the population level is required to make demonstrable improvements in life expectancy,” the authors concluded in a statement.
The problem of sedentary lifestyle is as evident in other countries as it is in America; thus, health care professionals would consistently remind their patients about the importance of engaging in physical activities. With the advent of smarter gadgets, even children who spend more time sitting at home than playing outdoors are at risk of developing sedentary habits early in their life, resulting to children obesity.
According to experts, adults should get at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day to stay fit while children should spend at least 60 minutes of playtime.
Tags: heart problems, obesity in children, sedentary lifestyle and health, sedentary lifestyle risks
July 10, 2012 at 1:58 pmBarbara
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I have recently been instructed to work from a location which adds 4-5 hours per day sitting on transport on top of a 7 hour a day ‘desk job’, and this with full knowledge of an exacerbated neck problem. I believe that employers need to be made accountable for the adverse health effects now and into the future that such a decision leads to, particularly when when the same work can be done from a closer location.
Any advice please or is there a precedent?
Thanks