Long sitting periods may significantly increase health risks
Sep 12, 2017 by CGP Staff
8
|
Image by Darko Stojanovic
A new study has been published linking prolonged sitting periods of around 12 or more hours per day, particularly those accumulated during 60 to 90-minute periods or longer, with significant increases in health risks. According to the study by researchers from the Columbia University Medical Center, those who kept most of their sitting sessions to less than 30 minutes had the lowest risk. “Sitting really is the new smoking”, said study co-author Monika Safford, “so if you have a job or lifestyle where you have to sit for prolonged periods of time, we suggest taking a movement break every half hour”. The study is the largest to link objectively measured sedentary time and sedentary patterns with health risk. More on Columbia University’s website and Science Daily.
I went with a standing desk, so I can alternate sitting periods to standing ones, and I end up standing more than sitting. I can easily stand 5 to 6 hours a day.
That said, even standing is not ideal, because as far as I know the issue is not just either sitting or standing, but the lack of movement. So, the best solution is to take breaks throughout the day and do some stretching, walking, moving the body.
Standing at a desk is still much more preferable to sitting though from a health point of view because of all the smaller movements you will make. But yes standing all day is still not ideal for your circulation (ask any factory worker who stands at a machine for a couple of hours without doing much walking). I need to get a standing desk as I miss working at a drawing board. But a routine of regular breaks and a half hour of proper exercise a day (even just a brisk walk) is super important – even if you’re only in your 20’s and think you can get away with it!
That’s why I’m taking a cig break every 30 minutes!
Joking aside, thanks for raising awareness here! It’s really important to eat healthy, try to move as much as possible and do something different regularly for mental balance as well.
Hahaha laughing loud here!
Well technically we are animals who used to move on all fours, then we learnt to stand and walk on twos around 6 millions years ago. But our natural healthy postures still only consists of versions of laying on our side and moving . Our body is not designed for sitting/standing for long periods of time. We made that up. Our technology is evolved that way. Now it is part of our next step in evolution. The weak ones who cant sit/stand for long will be eliminated from the gene pool, by natural selection.
Here’s a great open source, loopable timer for those who need it:
https://chris.dziemborowicz.com/apps/hourglass/
@Marcin: You’re most welcome.
This will nag you to death 😀
http://www.workrave.org/
SKARSTA desk is greatness.(from DM IKEA)