Is Sitting Lethal?

In the NY Times, Dr. James Levine calls “excessive sitting a lethal activity.”

The article highlights some disturbing facts:

In a study by the American Cancer Society, men who spent six hours or more per day of their leisure time sitting had an overall death rate that was nearly 20 percent higher than those who sat for three hours or less (during their leisure time). The death rate for women who sat for more than six hours a day was about 40 percent higher.

Another study in the Journal of Circulation, found that for every hour of television watched per day, the risk of dying increases almost 11 percent. 

Regardless of age, most today spend the majority of their day (approximately 9 hours per day) performing seated activities whether in school, at work, in route, or participating in leisure activities. Marc Hamilton, an inactivity researcher, reports that metabolic cost and “insulin effectiveness” almost immediately depreciates with minimal to no physical activity. Consequentially, society suffers from a rise in obesity, an increased risk for developing heart disease, and reduced life expectancy.

Dr. Levine suggests that by increasing the amount of “minor movements” performed while sitting; one will burn more calories than that expended during static sitting. This in turn will reduce the risks associated with prolonged sitting.

The concept is simple; make healthier food choices and increase physical activity levels while keeping in mind that even the smallest enhancements will make a difference.