Is Sitting the New Smoking and How to Fight It

A recent research by Queen’s University Belfast suggested that prolonged sitting is just as bad for our health as smoking. According to results, it can lead to increased risk of heart diseases and early death. Modern age has brought with it a lot of life facilitators, such as computers, cars and television. Unfortunately, they also have a downside. Today, people are spending most of their time sitting in front of the office computer or television and while driving.

This is a guest post by Nicole Noel, a passionate health and wellness blogger. We hope that you find it enjoyable and informative.

One of the researchers noticed that people spend, on average, more than 9 hours sitting down. Prolonged sitting can also slow the metabolism and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Why is sitting so bad for our health and how can we fight it?

How is Sitting Bad for Us?

Some of the most common and most direct effects of sitting are back pain and deteriorating spine health. Slow metabolism is another undesirable consequence which additionally impacts thing such as HDL (good cholesterol) levels in our bodies. Sitting during the work hours is creating a progressive tightening of the hip muscles which can impact the quality of your physical performance, if, for instance, you decide to head to the gym after work. Prolonged sitting is linked to development of type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, and even cancer.

According to World Health Organization, insufficient physical activity is first of the 10 leading factors for death, worldwide. On a global level, 1 in 4 adults is not active enough, which makes prolonged sitting a “global epidemic”.

Can We Fight It?

Our entire modern world is forcing us to sit down, whether it is when driving or working. That sedentary time can lead to health issues. Researchers suggested that the negative effects of the amount of time we spend sitting during the day, cannot be outweighed even with the benefits we get from exercising.

This does not mean that you should give up on your gym card and let alone your yoga classes – the more you exercise, the less you will feel the negative consequences of sedentary behavior.

Small Changes for a Big Change

After these shocking findings, and because of the long hours I spend sitting at work, I have decided that I will not sit idly by (literally), while all those negative effects are accumulating in my body. After consulting my personal trainers from Dubai, I have found out that while working on my computer, good ways to fight the negativities of sitting, are to sit on a pilates ball (which enables exercises for the legs, during the work hours) and get up from time to time (every half an hour) and take a short walk to stretch my legs.

Speaking of stretching, there are some muscles stretching exercises that can be done in the office with the help of the office chair. It may seem weird and uncomfortable for the first time, but in the end you might even get all the coworkers involved. I do not know about you, but I would rather look silly and avoid the pain. At home, it is even easier. You can exercise while watching TV or walk around the house during the commercials. Whenever you can, avoid driving and go on foot.

The fight against the sedentary behavior is not a single man’s battle. Still, everything starts on individual level. If you want to “be the change you want to see” you will have to start by getting up from that chair, now.

At Beyond Vitality, we are here to educate, guide, motivate and inspire you into a new and exciting journey to vibrant health. Our programs focus on small and gradual changes towards long-term and sustainable health. See our range of consultations and programs.