Most of us live and work in a sedentary culture and studies show that sitting too much is taking a huge toll on our health.
Dr. James Levine, director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University Obesity Solutions Initiative, has been studying the adverse effects of a sedentary lifestyle for years and sums up his findings this way. “Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death.”
Many other researchers agree with Dr. Levine, and continue to find evidence that prolonged sitting increases the risk of developing serious illnesses that include heart disease, various types of cancer, and Type 2 diabetes. In addition, the effects of long-term sitting persist even if you follow other healthful habits.
It appears that the impact of movement, even leisurely movement, is profound. In addition to burning more calories when you move, the muscle activity needed for standing and other movement seems to trigger the process where the body breaks down fats and sugars. When you sit, these processes stall and your health risks increase.
Take a moment to analyze your typical day. How much time to you spend sitting? Think about time spent at the computer, watching TV, and driving or riding in a vehicle. Also consider time you sit while enjoying hobbies, such as sewing, knitting, crafting, and woodworking, watching a ballgame or reading.
So, how can we sit less and move more? Start by simply standing, rather than sitting, whenever you can, and do as many tasks as you can while you walk. Here are some tips:
»» Stand while you talk on the phone, eat lunch or when reading the mail.
»» Stand during webinars and conference calls.
»» Use a standing desk for office work and other desk activities.
»» Put the remote control next to the TV instead of next to you and stand up during commercial breaks.
»» Walk to visit a neighbor instead of calling them.
»» Take meetings out of the conference room — talk while you walk.
»» Move the printer away from your desk so you need to stand or walk to retrieve copies.
»» For every 30 minutes you sit, stand for 5 minutes. Set an alarm to remind you, or at the very minimum move every 60 minutes.
»» Use the restroom on another floor of your office building or home, and take the stairs.
»» Stand often while you watch a live sports event – get up and cheer for your team!
MOST VIEWED STORIES
Cold case investigation leads to Holton warrant
Effingham owner regains truck following theft, arrest
Walnut Township recall coming; Friday mtg erupts in arrest
Former Kickapoo Tribal chairman arrested
Severe storms move through NE KS
Winchester native named as Amberwell CEO
Holton property search concludes with arrest
Rural Horton man charged in alleged beating
McLouth man injured in Monday wreck
KS prepares for severe weekend weather
Senator Slama on tax relief efforts
Former AG Schmidt running for KS' 2nd Congressional District
Commission approves agreement for budget help
Pawnee City School Board approves personnel changes
Council hears report from golf course
Sabetha woman arrested in business burglary
Richardson County Deputies busy during special enforcement
NVCH receives $415,000 grant for expansion project
LATEST STORIES
Effingham teen facing child sex crimes charges
Pawnee County Rural Health Clinic participating in DHHS program
Local students participation in Peru State research expo
Meetings to help with Homestead Exemptions scheduled in Johnson County
Johnson County Hospital to host meeting on upcoming expansion
Beef Barn replacement planned in Jefferson Co
Sabetha woman arrested in business burglary
Meriden man bound over on rape charge