HealthNotes

You may want to remain standing for this news: a new study has found a link between prolonged sitting and increased risk of death and chronic disease—even for people who exercise regularly. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers performed a meta-analysis of 47 studies, and found that, on average, people who engage in daily vigorous exercise, but who spend a significant amount of time sitting, are 16% more likely to die of any cause than people who do not sit for long periods of time. However, that same group of regular exercisers is 30% less likely to die of any cause than people who are sedentary and not physically active. Extended periods of sitting were also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, even after adjusting for factors such as smoking, age, and obesity. While it may not be possible to entirely eliminate prolonged sitting, it’s clear that physical activity does make a difference. The senior researcher of the study offered the following tips to limit sitting time:

• Get up and move for one to three minutes every half-hour when working at a desk.
• Make a point to stand or exercise during ads when watching TV.
• Track your sitting time, and make a goal to decrease it by two to three hours per 12 hour day.
• No matter what you are doing throughout the day, make time for some regular exercise every day.

Source: Los Angeles Times