Written by Hafsah Ganatra
From daily tasks like going to school or work to simple activities like watching TV, we find ourselves sitting down, often for much longer than we expected to. The daily struggle involves a dose of comfort through the presence of a seat. As a study from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reports, “The average U.S. adult spends more than half of his or her waking day in sedentary behaviors” [1]. This is worrisome because such a sedentary lifestyle can cause a lifetime of health-related problems. As the time spent in our seats rather than on our feet continues to increase, serious health-related risks can culminate to take on a more massive effect on human health.
Research findings suggest that those with a sedentary lifestyle, paired with physical inactivity, had greater amounts of abdominal fat than those who were physically active. More specifically, in the study conducted by Dr. Joseph Henson from the University of Leicester, researchers found a correlation between a sedentary lifestyle and fat buildup around internal organs. Through 124 participants, Dr. Henson measured abdominal fat using MRI scans while increasing the patients’ sedentary time. Those who had greater sedentary times along with physical inactivity were found to have greater measurements of liver and visceral fat. This extra abdominal fat alone can lead to the formation of several dangerous health conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. In an effort to “target prolonged sitting,” Dr. Henson’s study reiterates the importance of physical activity and draws attention to the hazardous effects of a stationary lifestyle [2].
In addition, extended sitting periods are detrimental to our organs, creating muscle damage and decreased brain activity. As we sit for prolonged periods of time, our muscles that are not being used begin to degrade over time. Sitting has also been linked to high blood pressure, leg disorders and back pain related to spinal damage. Beyond the physical risks, leading a sedentary lifestyle has also been shown to increase mortality rates as well [3]. Furthermore, research indicates simply increasing physical activity is not enough to completely alleviate the effects of lengthy sedentary phases. Instead, both physical activity plus decreased sedentary time should be applied to truly make a difference in the related risks [1].
What is being done to encourage healthy lifestyles upon Americans of all generations? Though it may seem difficult to implement changes, considering much of our daily lives include unavoidable situations such as sitting at desks in school or in office cubicles, it is not impossible. The number of schools and workplaces offering adjustable standing desks have increased tremendously in the past few years. To truly implement a change, however, more attention needs to be drawn to the risk of a sedentary lifestyle. So, take a stand and get moving [4].
References:
[1.] Matthews, C.E., George, S.M., Moore, S.C., Bowles, R.H. 2012. Amount of Time Spent in Sedentary Behaviors and Cause-Specific Mortality in US Adults. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 95: 437-445.
[2] Henson, J., Edwardson, C.L., Morgan, B. 2017. Sedentary Time and MRI-Derived Measures of Adiposity in Active Versus Inactive Individuals. The Obesity Society. 26: 29-36.
[3] Berkowitz, B. Clark, P. 2014. The Health Hazards of Sitting. The Washington Post.
[4] Duenwald, M. 2017. Dangers of Sitting. Bloomberg.