Mental Health

Sitting for a Long Time Increases Risk of Heart Disease, Diabetes and Death

By S.C. Stringfellow | Update Date: Oct 15, 2012 02:11 PM EDT

Sitting for protracted periods of time, which is common practice for elementary school students and office workers, can causes surface discomforts such as numbness of the rear, shoulder and back pain, along with slowing of blood flow to the appendages which causes our feet and legs to 'fall asleep.'

While recent study went further to suggest that sitting for too long can even increase our risks for kidney disease, new research conducted by the University of Leicester, in association with colleagues at Loughborough University, has taken the findings one step further to suggest that remaining stationary increases your risk of diabetes, heart disease and death. 

The study, led by Dr. Emma Wilmot, a research fellow in the Diabetes Research Group at the University of Leicester, was a meta analysis of combined data from 18 separate studied and involved  794,577 participants.

The research illustrated  that those who sat for long periods of time have a higher chance in their risk of diabetes, heart-disease and has even been proven to shorten one's life-span.

 Interestingly, the results were independent of any individual physical exercise undertaken, suggesting that even if an individual meets the physical activity guidelines, their health may still be at risk if they sit for long periods of time during the day. 

According to the study, the average person spends, on any given day, about 50 to 70 percent of their time sitting down. But limiting the about of time spent sitting, researchers tentatively conclude that the average person can reduce their risks for heart and kidney disease, diabetes and death

Researches mention such tricks as eating earlier or later at your desk while working and taking a walk during your actual lunch hour. Researchers also suggest exercising while at work or, if you do work from a laptop, placing the device on top of a filing cabinet  and working from there. 

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