So it looks like no matter how much you exercise, you’re sort of screwed anyways.
Hey guys, Amy standing here for DNews because there’s more research out that shows sitting
is bad for you!
We’ve heard this before: sitting is bad.
We’re supposed to be all up and at ‘em all day.
But most jobs don’t allow that; a lot of us are sedentary at work, then unwind in front
of the TV in the evening.
But you work out three days a week or walk home?
That’s good, but it’s not quite enough.
Exercise isn’t the problem, it’s the amount of time spent sitting.
At least, that’s according to a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine
from a team of scientists based at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.
The team studied sedentary behaviour and found that the health hazards associated with sitting
seem to be greatest for people who sit 8 or 9 hours a day.
The impact was even more pronounced in people who did not exercise regularly.
Sitting for prolonged periods has a lot of risks, including a 14 percent increased risk
of cardiovascular disease, a 13 percent risk of cancer, and an insane 91 percent increase
in diabetes.
And sitting for a long time with no breaks for stretching or exercise comes with a 40
percent higher risk of early death.
The longer you sit the higher the risk, and the risks aren’t entirely offset by exercise.
Sitting for prolonged periods increase your insulin resistance, meaning your body can’t
process the sugar in your blood and move it into your cells as efficiently.
Sitting also burns an extremely small number of calories, leading to problems associated
with obesity.
And if you’re not sitting with your feet and lower back supported you can develop hip
and lower back problems, problems that you’ll have a hard time recovering from if you’re
already not active.
The study authors suggest getting up and stretching or moving around for just a couple of minutes
every half hour or so.
So what can you do to be a little active and burn some calories exercising just five minutes
an hour?
You can burn about 20 calories walking at a moderate pace.
If you’re at home, brush your teeth to burn 12 calories and up your dental hygiene game.
If you don’t mind people staring at you, burn about 40 calories in five minutes doing
pushups or walking up and down the stairs.
Jumping rope, or just jumping, burns 50 calories in 5 minutes.
The US Department of Health and Human Services suggests instead of sitting, you can pace
around your office during conference calls.
Other tips include using your lunch break to fit in some physical activity, or getting
up to go talk to a co-worker instead of emailing them.
At home, scrubbing your floors to burn about 60 calories in five minutes!
If you scrub during every commercial break with your evening TV, you’ll be a little
healthier and have clean floors!
Or consider doing push-ups or sit-ups WHILE you watch your favorite shows.
So what do you guys do to stay active?
Let us know in the comments below or you can catch me on Twitter as @astVintageSpace.
And don’t forget to subscribe for more DNews every day of the week.