Sunday, 26 June 2011
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Sitting For Hours May Result in a Shorter Life?
Not a surprising conclusion but, yes, according to a study conducted by the American Cancer Society sitting too much shaves years off your life. Researchers recorded 123, 216 patients' health outcomes during a 14-year period and found that those who sit for an extend period of time every day have a shorter life-span than those who don't.The study found that women who sit for more than six hours a day were about 40 percent more likely to die during the study than women who sat fewer than three hours per day. On the other hand, men were about 20 percent more likely to die.
Other similar studies conducted focused on specific conditions affecting many Americans, such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes and depression. Those studies also took into account if the people sat for extended periods of time and what risk the factor put them for an illness. Once again, those who sat the longest every day were at a higher risk of developing one of the above illnesses.
Researchers advise that sitting for a long time everyday has the same effects as smoking. The damage cannot be reversed with exercise; it's permanent.
But many Americans who work sedentary jobs are taking action. They are installing standing and adjustable desks and treadmill desks, which operate at low walking speeds, in order to switch between standing and walking positions.
I don't know about you, but I sit for almost 8 hours a day at work, so personally this study is worrying me.
What do you think of this study? Do you sit for many hours a day? Why?
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About the Author
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- From: Olympia
- About Me: I'm a broadcast journalism and anthropology major. Health and science are my nerdy passions. I hope my blogs motivate, inform and sometimes shock you, but only in a good way of course :) Twitter: OlympiaBardis
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Comments (20)
I don't know why people are surprised to find out that sitting around and doing nothing all day is bad for your health.
Eh, maybe all the running, Lindy Hopping, and strength training I do will offset though, haha!
This worries me too! I have to sit for basically 8 hours straight due to my job. I think this is more motivation to get a new one. I've been worrying about the whole sitting thing, but the pay is really good, so I haven't bothered looking. But I think that before the next school year starts, I'm going to get a new job that will have me up and about more. Even if it is a pay cut, I can't sacrifice my health my for money!
What about if you're active but still have enough time to sit on your ass for long periods of time? Because I'll ride my bike for about two hours each day or lift weights for an hour and unless I decide I'm going to scrub my house every day too; I'm still going to be on my ass. What I am supposed to do? Just stand in my house like a re-re? I don't sit for 6 hours straight. But, I definitely sit a lot. But I'm active too. I don't get it! Bwaaaaaah.
I've been much more active lately. Playing volleyball, bike riding... but then I have my time periods where I sit on the computer, in the evenings especially. I think that when your ass gets numb, that's a good indicator that you ought to walk around for a little.
Eh, whatever. I wouldn't mind dying earlier than my expected life span.
This is so stupid. Just sitting?
being worried about new ways to die or have a shorter life span will add stress, so they might be prone to heart attacks, so one can die from that, too:D
Sounds like a ploy just to push people to exercise through fear tactics. I doubt it's going to kill you- they just want you to go outside and play sports and not be a fatass.
Wow, studies like this are such a waste of tax payers' money. Obvious conclusion is obvious.
I don't think much of this study. Something new to worry people about... we're all going to die at some point. Since my job is a desk job that I enjoy a lot, I'm not going to worry too much about this.
And really... To sit fewer than three hours a day, you would need to be doing manual labor. Most of us don't have those types of jobs. Just don't worry so much and get your exercise in, and realize that ultimately, if you're relatively healthy, you have little control over when you die, and absolutely no control over whether you die.
Next time I'm class, I'll stand through lecture. When my professor says anything, I'll make sure to tell him about this study.
I think this is a useless study.
just wondering.. how is it non reversible? it doesn't really explain what damage it causes... those diseases are caused by so many other things.. it could be that people who sit more are more likely to be eating throughout the day?? so maybe it's not really from sitting
I also sit 8+ hours a day for work. I hate sitting down all the time. What I do is park on the 2nd floor, and at a far corner from the stairs. I always take the stairs instead of the elevator. Same thing with the office, I take the stairs to second floor. Sometimes I take breaks, and I walk up to the 6th floor and walk back down to the 2nd floor. It gets the heart pumping and works out your glutes, calves, and quads. All this is helpful, but what is best is to sign yourself up at the gym. You have to workout at least 2-3 times a week. If you can't afford it, instead go run at a park. Can't let your muscles go to waste and gain fat for sitting all the time.
If you work an office job get up and walk around a few times a day. That will help. Other than that, this study isn't surprising.
Sitting and standing too much is not good for you either way. I thought it was obviously but jobs still force you to do this.
it may have a lot to do with blood circulation. by not using our muscles properly, they form adhesions (almost like they bind to one another) and become atrophied. this reduces blood flow to muscles, joints, bones, organs, pretty much everywhere .. the lymphatic system which flushes out the blood becomes toxic and unable to clean properly ...
so pretty much what im sayin is do yoga and get massages as often as you can if you lead a sedentary lifestyle, cardio may not be enough .. for some
To quote polexperfection:
Obvious conclusion is obvious.Since I am unemployed, I sit down and look for work at home, but I do go out for walks.
Even when I had work, (training providers to help to find work) all the jobs I had have been office jobs, I make sure I don't sit down all day, go to the photocopier, take documents back etc.