“Sitting is the new smoking” seemed like a dramatic statement when it was first coined by James A. Levine, MD, PhD. But many medical experts now believe it to be accurate.
The amount of time many Americans spend sitting down each day – whether at a desk, in a car, or in front of a screen for leisure time – creates health risks comparable to those caused by smoking. Levine, who is director of the Mayo Clinic-Arizona State University Obesity Solutions Initiative, believes that people lose up to two hours of life for every hour they spend sitting. “Sitting is more dangerous than smoking, kills more people than HIV and is more treacherous than parachuting. We are sitting ourselves to death,” says Levine.
The Health Risks of Too Much Sitting
The human body is not designed for long periods of sitting. Instead, it works best when it spends a significant portion of time throughout the day standing and walking. These activities keep the blood moving, aid digestion, and allow the body to metabolize nutrients. Sitting also puts strain on the neck and lower back, which are not designed to support the body in a sitting position for long periods.
When we sit, the body’s processes for breaking down fats and sugars properly are stalled. A lack of physical activity can reduce quality of sleep as well, which means the body does not get the rest it needs to repair itself and continue important processes. Poor sleep may also perpetuate the cycle of sedentary behavior – if you’re tired, you’ll probably feel less motivated to be active.
Research has shown that sedentary behavior contributes to obesity and metabolic syndrome, which can increase a person’s blood pressure, blood sugar, body fat, and cholesterol levels. Although some studies have linked excessive sitting to other serious diseases, these health issues likely arise in people who are already dealing with obesity. This means that, even if you do sit during work and/or leisure time, adding exercise and a balanced diet to your day will help reduce many of the health risks associated with sitting.
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