July 23, 2010 2:33 PM

Are You Sitting Down? It Could Kill You

By
Aina Hunter
Topics
News ,
Heart ,
Research

iStockPhoto

(CBS/AP) A new study shows that staying seated for long periods shortens your life span.

Don't think you're exempt because you take care of yourself. According to the study - published in the American Journal of Epidemology - whether or not you exercise doesn't offer much protection against the increased risk of premature death.

The study followed 120,000 healthy adults between 1993 and 2006. It showed that women who spent more than six hours a day on their behinds had a 37 percent increased risk of premature death when compared to women who sat for three hours a day or less.

For men, long hours of sitting brought an 18 percent increase in the risk of premature death.

The increased risk of premature death - most from heart disease - persisted even after the researchers controlled for smoking, being overweight, and other risk factors.

But what explains the link?

 "Prolonged time spent sitting, independent of physical activity, has been shown to have important metabolic consequences," the study's lead author, Dr. Alpa Patel, an epidemiologist with the American Cancer Society, said in a written statement.

The consequences include abnormal cholesterol and glucose levels, high blood pressure and other so-called biomarkers of cardiovascular disease.

Read more about the study.


Add a Comment
by ouchitatom July 26, 2010 11:21 AM EDT
This isn't complete enough data for me . I remeber when too much coffee or choclate or not enough will shorten your life. Overall lifestyle and stress levels is what kills people of sedimentary lifestyle and thier inability to confront and maintain a healthy diet.
Reply to this comment
by sandique July 25, 2010 8:59 AM EDT
If this is correct then I should live to a ripe old age. I must naturally want to live long because I can rarely sit still for very long.
Reply to this comment
by Noval53 July 25, 2010 3:04 AM EDT
I hope there will be a follow up to this story that gives some helpful advice instead of just bad news. I would think that using a different kind of ergonomic chair could help. What kind of exercise "can" help if routine exercise does not?
Reply to this comment
by dianeelillie July 24, 2010 2:45 PM EDT
Perhaps desk job workers could often get up, walk, on breaks do a little excercis or at least stay off the back-end when home. Any other ideas?
Reply to this comment
by WillowSunstar July 24, 2010 12:00 PM EDT
So what are those of us with desk jobs supposed to do? Quit and go on the government welfare rolls forever just to not die early?
Reply to this comment
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