Update on Prolonged Sitting
Study confirms taking a seat for too long increases risks of death from all causes.
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Prolonged sitting is linked with earlier death risk from all causes and for major cardiovascular disease, according to a large 21-country international study, published in JAMA Cardiology (2022; 7 [8], 796–807).
Researchers from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia and Beijing’s Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, in the People’s Republic of China, collaborated in analyzing data that followed individuals for an average of 11 years. People who sit for 6–8 hours per day have a 12%–13% increased risk for early death and heart disease. Those who sit more than 8 hours a day have a 20% risk increase.
Sitting time and exercise are related. What’s positive is that exercise can offset some off the negative effects of sedentariness and prolonged sitting. “The overarching message here is to minimize how much you sit,” said Scott Lear, PhD, professor of cardiovascular prevention research at Simon Fraser university. “If you must sit, getting in more exercise during other times of the day will offset that risk . . . For those sitting more than 4 hours a day, replacing a half hour of sitting with exercise reduced the risk by 2%.”
See also: Take Breaks From Sitting!
Shirley Eichenberger-Archer, JD, MA
Shirley Archer, JD, MA, is an internationally acknowledged integrative health and mindfulness specialist, best-selling author of 16 fitness and wellness books translated into multiple languages and sold worldwide, award-winning health journalist, contributing editor to Fitness Journal, media spokesperson, and IDEA's 2008 Fitness Instructor of the Year. She's a 25-year industry veteran and former health and fitness educator at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, who has served on multiple industry committees and co-authored trade books and manuals for ACE, ACSM and YMCA of the USA. She has appeared on TV worldwide and was a featured trainer on America's Next Top Model.
