Why sitting too much is bad for your health

Sitting is a common body posture.
Over half of the average person's day is spent sitting, doing activities such as driving, working at a desk, or watching TV. 
This article tells you whether sitting is bad for your health and how you can cut back on how much you are sitting in certain positions.

Sitting increases your risk of weight gain
People with obesity sit for an average of two hours longer each day than people with a normal weight according to a research. 
The fewer calories you burn, the more likely you are to gain weight. 
This is why sedentary behavior is so closely linked to obesity - especially poor physical activity.
tps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15681386/ 

Sitting is linked to early death
The more sedentary you are, the more likely you are to die early. 
The most sedentary people had a 22–49% greater risk of early death. 
It doesn’t help if you exercise every day or not. 
Of course, that’s no excuse to skip the gym or other workouts. If you skip, your time may be even shorter. 
tps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22890825/ 

Sitting too long can hurt your heart
According to a study, the more time people spend sitting, the higher their BMIs, glucose levels, waist circumference, triglyceride levels, and the lower their HDL cholesterol levels. 
Conversely, the longer people spent standing, the more favorable these same measurements were. 
All these factors can hurt your heart.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25599350/ 

Sitting too long can cause Deep vein thrombosis
Sitting for too long can cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT) A blood clot is a blood clot that forms in the veins of your leg. 
DVT is a serious problem, because if part of a blood clot in the leg vein breaks off and travels, it can cut off the blood flow to other parts of the body, including your lungs, causing a pulmonary embolism. 
This is a medical emergency that can lead to major complications or even death. 

Sitting too long may increase risk of Dementia
If you sit too much, your brain could look just like that of someone with dementia.
Long periods of inactivity may lead to atrophy of the part of the brain responsible for memory, according to a preliminary study from the University of California, Los Angeles.
ttps://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0195549 

Sitting too long can cause back pain
Sitting for prolonged periods of time in a slouched position can lead to increased stress on the back and neck, as well as strain on the spinal discs.
Additionally, sitting in a slouched position can overstretch the spinal ligaments and strain the spinal discs.

Sitting too long increases risk of Diabetes
As sitting time increases, so does the risk for type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases. 
A 2013 study surveyed 63,048 middle-aged Australian men about how long they sit during an average day. 
The researchers found that men who sat for more than four hours a day were found to be at a higher risk for Type 2 diabetes.

Sitting Too Much Increases Cancer Risk
Researchers from the American Cancer Society have found that women who spend 6 hours or more of free time sitting per day have a 10% greater risk of getting cancer than women who spend less than 3 hours of free time sitting per day
ttps://www.cancer.org/latest-news/sitting-too-much-increases-cancer-risk-in-women.html  

Sitting too long can undo all the good your exercise does
The effects of too much sitting are hard to counter with exercise. 
Even if you work out 7 hours a week -- far more than the suggested 2-3 hours -- you can’t reverse the effects of sitting 7 hours at a time. 
Don’t throw away all that hard work at the gym by hitting the couch for the rest of the day. Keep moving!

Disclaimer: The advice provided is intended for informational purpose only and does not substitute for professional medical advice.  Consult with your doctor if you’re seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.​