Image by Andrea Piacquadio
Is Sitting Too Much Unhealthy?
Many of you have probably heard the phrase “sitting is the new smoking.” But what makes sitting comparable to a habit known to cause many deadly diseases and chronic health conditions? Sitting is relaxing, right? Sure! And your body needs proper rest. However, many Americans subconsciously sit for an extended amount of time each day. Ironically, I am sitting as I write this article, and you are more than likely sitting as you read!
Health Risks from Excessive Sitting
The majority of jobs around the world include long hours of sitting as well as very little movement throughout the day. Normally, an average daily routine consists of minimal movement that may not meet the requirements that are necessary for a healthy life. Average days usually consist of sleeping, eating breakfast, commuting to work, working at a desk, commuting back home, relaxing after work, then cooking dinner, only to go back to sleep to prepare for relatively the same day all over again. With this in mind, you can imagine the extreme lack of movement that takes place in an average American’s life.
Not many people realize the toll that too much sitting can take on your body— even if you do regularly partake in physical activity or maintain a healthy lifestyle! Some serious health risks of extended sitting are…
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Cancer
- Mental Illness/Depression/Anxiety
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)/Blood clots
- Reduction in memory or focus
- Obesity
Physical Effects of Prolonged Sitting
Over 25% of Americans sit for more than 8 hours each day, with 44% of them getting little to no daily exercise. Spending an extended amount of time lounging with very little movement can cause metabolism levels to slow down drastically. Studies show that sitting for over 30 minutes causes your metabolism levels to drop by about 90%, preventing your body from burning excess fat at a normal and healthy rate. Excessive sitting may lead to increased obesity, making it more important to maintain an active lifestyle. Sitting for more than 7 hours per day can worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Sitting alters the body’s muscles into a different position than they are supposed to maintain. The body slouches as we relax our muscles, creating poor posture habits and restricting normal blood flow. It also causes the hamstrings to stretch, quadriceps to loosen, and hips to develop an abnormal posture, resulting in poor alignment and balance. Poor hip alignment may cause the body to struggle against gravity’s natural forces, resulting in the legs collapsing inward and putting unnatural pressure on the kneecaps, lower back, and feet, all while trying to maintain balance and good posture. Once you transition from prolonged sitting to a standing position, you may find that your body is stiffer as the muscles and joints re-align, likely irritating and straining the muscles. By taking frequent breaks, you can move those relaxed muscles, increase blood flow, clear your mind, and boost energy levels.
Move, Move, Move!
Your body deserves a break. Sitting is not bad for the body if you sit for small amounts of time versus for long hours without giving your body the movement that it craves. It is recommended that everyone get a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise per day to counteract the effects of sitting for many hours. Now, this is not suggesting that you must get a gym membership or participate in intense workouts every day. Exercising is essential for the body but doing something small such as a brisk walk after work, taking frequent breaks away from your desk, or going for a light jog may balance out the accumulated time spent sitting all day.
Taking breaks and relaxing are important for a healthy body and mind. This article is your call to action! Take a little time off from your long break and get your body moving to eliminate health risks. If watching TV, get up to stretch during every commercial. If working at a desk, take frequent breaks, or walk over to see a coworker instead of emailing them. Take the longer route in the grocery store to get those extra steps in. Any amount of movement may just help prevent unwelcome chronic conditions and lead to living stronger and healthier lives.
Agents
We hope that this information on prolonged sitting is useful to you.
Empower Brokerage is dedicated to helping you make informed decisions about your health and finances. Whether it’s through webinar training, one-on-one calls, seminars, or marketing plans, we want you to be successful!
Give us a call at 888-539-1633 or leave a comment below if you have any questions.
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Born and raised in Houston, TX, Brittany made the move to Dallas, TX to expand her marketing career. As a 2019 business marketing graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University with a background in social media, Brittany joined Empower Brokerage in the summer of 2021 serving as a Marketing Specialist and RSD Liason.
