You’re probably aware that sitting for long periods is terrible for you. A new study illustrates precisely how awful it can go. More time spent sitting throughout the day was linked to a greater risk of early death and heart disease in research that studied over 100,000 persons from 21 nations for more than ten years. The researchers discovered that increasing physical activity reduces the dangers of extended sitting. Extended sitting and inactivity were dangerous — almost as terrible as smoking.
“If you have to sit, having additional movement at other times of the day may help balance the hazards,” says study researcher Scott Lear, Ph.D., professor at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.” Humans seem to be made to move – and to suffer if we don’t,” adds Harlan Krumholz, MD, of Yale School of Medicine, who was not involved in the research.
The research found that sitting for eight or more hours per day was an approximately 20% increased risk of developing heart disease or dying from any cause during the study period, compared to those who sat for half that amount of time. Even sitting for 6 to 8 hours a day was linked to a 13% increased risk of premature death and a 13% increased risk of heart disease. Long-term sitters were also 49 percent more likely to have heart failure.
The research also showed the health advantages of physical activity. Persons who sat the most and were the least active had the most significant risk (up to 50% higher stakes), whereas people who sat the most and were involved had a chance of just 17%. This was true for residents of high-and middle-and low-income nations.
Finally, individuals who sat the least and were the most active had the lowest chance of dying young and developing heart disease. According to Krumholz, the relationship between sitting and early mortality and heart disease is “possible,” and the solution – more excellent physical exercise – offers “little harm and a lot of rewards.” “As our culture shifts toward more screen time and less physical exercise, we must evaluate the consequences for our long-term health and function,” he adds.
