Do You Know Sitting Is Bad For You Health ?

Sitting for long periods of time has been shown to raise the risk of developing diabetes, experiencing a cardiovascular event or getting certain types of cancer.

Leading experts agree that sitting can cause as many, if not more, negative health effects as smoking. Sitting for long periods of time has been shown to raise the risk of developing diabetes, experiencing a cardiovascular event or getting certain types of cancer. 

A 14-year study involving nearly 185,000 participants published in the American Journal of Epidemiology concluded that time spent sitting was independently associated with mortality. Perhaps most startling: This result was true regardless of the participants’ physical activity levels. The risks of sitting have become clear enough that the Medical Journal of Australia published an article declaring that prolonged sitting at a desk may be “hazardous” and urging doctors and employers to prescribe or consider alternatives. 

Sitting — especially sitting in chairs — takes a heavy toll on health in part because it essentially lets your body shut down. When you plop down in a chair, your muscles disengage, your hips tighten and your spine becomes nearly rigid. Blood flow while in the sitting position is sluggish, which can impact brain function, heart health and even raise the risk of blood clots. Your chair also can cause a dramatic drop in production of fat-burning enzymes and calorie burn. 

We simply were not designed to sit in chairs all day. We evolved to be upright and active. When we rise from our chairs, it’s like a wake-up call to our bodies. Standing requires more engagement of your muscles and gets your blood flowing. You can become more alert and energized. Your hips are more open and your spine is free to twist.