Sitting Too Long Might Be Bad For Your Health!

Sitting for long periods increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and death, even if people also exercise. Anyone who spent a lot of time sitting or lying down would obviously benefit from moving more.

The researchers say the opportunities for sedentary behaviour in modern society such as watching TV, sitting in a car or using a computer are omnipresent. Of course, in modern society many people go to the gym for a burst of exercise to redress the balance.

A research team, led by Dr Emma Wilmot from the Diabetes Group at the University of Leicester, says while going to the gym or pool after work is better than heading straight for the sofa, spending a long time sitting down remains bad for you.

Dr Wilmot, who led the study, said it was clear that those who sat the most had a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and death, than those who sat the least. She said that if a worker sits at their desk all day then goes to the gym, while their colleague heads home to watch TV, then the gym-goer will of course have better health outcomes.

However, there is still a health risk because of the amount of sitting they do. People convince themselves they are living a healthy lifestyle, doing their 30 minutes of exercise a day; but they need to think about the other 23.5 hours.

The strongest associations in the analysis were between prolonged sitting and diabetes. There is evidence that being sedentary, negatively affects glucose levels and increases insulin resistance.

Dr Wilmot said the study’s message could help those at high risk of diabetes, such as obese people or those of South Asian ethnic origin, because it was an easy lifestyle change to make.

Prof Stuart Biddle, of Loughborough University, said there are many ways we can reduce our sitting time, such as breaking up long periods at the computer at work by placing our laptop on a filing cabinet. We can have standing meetings, we can walk during the lunch break, and we can look to reduce TV viewing in the evenings by seeking out less sedentary behaviours.

Dr Matthew Hobbs, head of research at Diabetes UK, said people should not be discouraged from exercising. Getting more physical activity is a great way of helping maintain a healthy weight, which is the best way of minimizing your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Questions

1. How is exercise beneficial in your and your family’s lives?

2. How much time do you spend exercising?

3. Have you experienced the benefits of exercise?

4. Have you experienced the drawbacks of a sedentary life style?

5. With the above article in mind, how will you change your life routine?

6. Do you think the information in the article can benefit society’s health?

References and Acknowledgements:

1.  Sitting for long periods ‘is bad for your health’

2. Standing Desk

3.  Watching TV