For better health, try standing up more, a new study suggests. It found that compared to persons who regularly sit for less than 4 hours per day, those who sit for more than 8 hours have a 15% increased risk of dying in the next 3 years and, even worse, those who spend 11 or more hours a day sitting are 40% more likely to die. Strikingly, the elevated risks for dying from all causes remained even after taking into account participants' physical activity, weight and health status.
For the study, Australian researchers analyzed self-reported data from more than 222,000 people aged 45 and older. "The evidence on the detrimental health effects of prolonged sitting has been building over the last few years. Our research indicates that after the 8-hour mark, the risks go up exponentially. It's really about what you're doing in your leisure time and making the decision to move”, said lead researcher Dr. van der Ploeg. Currently, an estimated 90% of adults’ leisure time is spent sitting.
What to do: If your job is sedentary, try to take frequent breaks and go for a walk around the work space or simply move in place for a couple minutes. Because standing time at sedentary jobs is necessarily limited, try to make a greater portion of your leisure time standing, walking or engaging in other movement. After work, instead of sitting in front of the computer or TV, try to get in some physical activity or do anything else that involves moving around. If you are watching TV, make a point of getting up during advertisements or try marching in place while watching.
SOURCE: Hidde van der Ploeg, Ph.D., senior research fellow, Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia. March 26, 2012, Archives of Internal Medicine
Adapted from article found at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_123382.html
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