A new Government initiative, Get Britain Standing, is highlighting the health risks faced by desk based workers. Apparently, British people sit down on average for 8.9 hours each day and research is now starting to establish that sedentary lifestyles are likely to cause as many deaths as smoking.
Prolonged sitting (including commuting and at home) for more than 4 hours each day can lead to a range of symptoms, including the enzymes responsible for burning harmful blood fats shutting down; a decreased metabolic rate; disrupted blood sugar levels; increased insulin and blood pressure levels and also leg muscles switching off.
The list of the top ten risks created by this level of inactivity make alarming reading – and the risks apparently increase significantly for those who sit for 8-10 hours a day or more. The risks are: cardiovascular health (heart disease, vascular function, circulation & blood pressure), cancer, diabetes (type 2), weight gain, metabolic syndrome, mental health, back/neck pain, muscle degeneration, osteoporosis and mortality.
Nine ways prolonged sitting can harm you.
