In a shocking new study, researchers at the University of Sydney have found that people who sit for 11 hours a day or more increase their chances of dying within three years! Even more surprising, this takes into account the physical activity and weight – and they found that even those who are physically active during the rest of their day are still at high risk for dying. The research was commissioned by the Cardiovascular Research Network and it was supported by the NSW Division of the National Heart Foundation Australia.
As Dr. Hidde van der Ploeg, the lead of the study said,
“These results have important public health implications. That morning walk or trip to the gym is still necessary, but it's also important to avoid prolonged sitting. Our results suggest the time people spend sitting at home, work and in traffic should be reduced by standing or walking more.”
Obviously – activity does matter. The study found that people who sat the most did double their risk of dying within three years over those who were active.
Statistics show that the typical adult sits for 90% of their leisure time; similarly, less than 50% of adults engage in physical activities at the level recommended by the World Health Organization.
As Heart Foundation CEO Tony Thirlwell reported,
“Watching TV, using computers and electronic games can involve sitting for long periods and have become a big part of leisure time. But we know that people who spend less time on these things have better health than those who spend too much time on them.”