Sitting Your Life Away
It is well-documented that a sedentary lifestyle leads to a plethora of health problems. But in the past 30 years, we have turned our leisure and our work into seated activities. We were made to walk; our ancestors walked on average 12 miles per day. All of this sitting also wreaks havoc on our posture. Postural corrections and impairments lead to aches and pains in joints, usually the lower back. Yes, we have evolved from Upright Walking Apes to Seated Hunched-Over Animals.
You might spend plenty of time in the gym, trying to balance the time you sit with the time you are active. But a new study shows this may not be enough. According to a study by medical journal “Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise,” your risk of dying increases with the amount of time you are seated, even if you engage in other physical activity.
The 12-year study of over 17,000 participants age 18-90 monitored sitting time, leisure time physical activity, smoking status, and alcohol consumption at baseline. The results showed “a progressively higher risk of mortality across higher levels of sitting time,” regardless of “leisure-time physical activity” (working out). “In addition to the promotion of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and a healthy weight, physicians should discourage sitting for extended periods,” it concluded.
Limiting the amount of time we sit reaps obvious benefits. Shaving off a few hours each week will add up quickly. Get creative, whether it’s joining an after-work sports league, throwing a frisbee in the park, or walking around the block during lunch. Find a handful of activities to have in your arsenal to fight the urge to sit.
Enjoy Your Exercise. Enjoy Your Day.
