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If you’re reading this article while sitting at your desk, stand up!
A new study published earlier this week, yielded a life-threatening warning to chronic “sitters,” saying that they could lose two years of their life.
The study as featured on USNews.com was conducted at Louisiana State University’s Pennington Biomedical Research Center.
Researcher Peter Katzmarzyk suggested that simply sitting too much is risky behavior when it comes to your health. "It's right in the same ballpark as smoking and obesity—sedentary behavior is in the same category."
Katzmarzyk told Bloomberg.com, “It’s about the inactivity in your muscles. When you’re sitting your legs are completely inactive.” He said that just getting your 30 minutes of exercise in a day is not enough to combat these dire statistics if you choose to sit for the duration of the rest of the day.
Most Americans have been categorized as “desk jockies” sitting in their cubicles or home offices most of the day. The study involved more than just Americans.
USNews.com says the study looked at “an analysis of five large-scale studies following about 2 million people in several different countries,” which led to the resultant conclusion of the life expectancy loss of two years.
In fact according to a prior study out of Britain, “In a typical working week, people spend on average 5 hours and 41 minutes per day sitting at their desk.”
That study as featured on ScienceDaily.com found that sitting at work may not only affect your physical health by potentially causing you to sit more at home, but it also can result in a higher body mass index, as well as affect your psychological health.
The study results show, that when we sit more at work we can also experience a decrease in our mental well-being.
So what can you do to combat the downright hazards of sitting on the job? Experts suggest spending a little more time being upright.
According to LiveStrong.com, “The simple act of standing up instead of sitting may help you burn as many as 50 more calories per hour, depending on your size.”
So push away from the conference table and stand during meetings. Have a heated, not seated, discussion to resolve an issue instead of blasting off an email.
LiveStrong.com gives us even more science-based incentives to get off our duffs.
“Standing qualifies as non-exercise activity thermogenisis, also known as NEAT, which encompasses those everyday activities that help burn calories, such as fidgeting, gesturing and shivering.”
So, stand up for your health whether it be, at work, at home or at your leisure and you will live longer.
Online Resources:
“Study: Excessive Sitting Cuts Life Expectancy by Two Years – USNews.com.” US News and World Report. Web 10 July 2012.
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/07/09/study-excessive-sitting-cuts-life-expectancy-by-two-years
“Sitting Less May Add Two Years To U.S. Life Expectancy – Bloomberg.com.” Bloomberg Business. Web 10 July 2012.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-09/sitting-less-may-add-two-years-to-u-s-life-expectancy.html
“Office Workers Spend Too Much Time at Their Desks, Experts Say – ScienceDaily.com.” Science Daily. Web 10 July 2012.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120113210203.htm
“Calories Burned Standing vs. Sitting–LiveStrong.com.” Live Strong. Web 10 July 2012.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/73916-calories-burned-standing-vs.-sitting
Joanne Sgro-Killworth is a Television Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutritionist. She is Certified in Pilates, Pre-natal/Post-Partum, Yoga and Senior Fitness. She specializes in Weight Loss, Post-Rehab and Post Cancer Training.
Joanne's fitness plans and recipes are available globally on her website www.fitnessanswer.com/ She resides in the Phoenix, AZ area with her husband and son, where she runs her personal training business, Fitness Answer, LLC.
Reviewed July 11, 2012
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
Add a Comment1 Comments
Thank you for raising awareness of the "sitting disease." Most people don't realize the ill effects sitting has on the body. Time to make a change.
UpDesk is the perfect solution. It's a height-adjustable desk that allows the user to go up or down with a touch of a button (or manual crank). Worried about the price? Do some research and you'll find we're competitively priced.
We would love to earn your business and recommendation! Help us raise the standard... one desk at a time.
Kamron Kunce
July 19, 2012 - 1:15pmDirector of Social Media at UpDesk
(Comment typed while standing up)
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