Sitting Can Kill You

OK, maybe that’s a little bit exaggerated – sitting can kill you – but research shows that if you spend most of your time sitting it can shorten your lifespan.

How long do you sit during the day?  I can go periods of hours typing away on my computer. Whether you’re watching TV, sitting at your office desk or in school lectures the length of time you sit for one period of time can really take a toll on your body and mind.

In a study done of over 120,000 Americans, researchers found that people who sat for more than 6 hours per day were more likely to die in a 14 year period than those who sat for half that time.  Sitting for extended periods of time can cramp your body causing it to shut down and impact your cholesterol leading to risks of death.  The risk is more severe in women than men.

If you do have a job that requires you to sit at your desk for extended periods of time, take a walk every half hour to keep your body moving.  You can also try replacing your desk chair with a fitness ball.  This will help to keep your muscles engaged and your body in motion.