Sitting down for long periods without taking breaks can raise your chances of dying early by 30%, says a new study in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Even though we’ve known that not moving much could lead to health problems, this study reveals that working out doesn’t lower the risk of dying sooner.
If you spend most of your day sitting for work or other activities, you might face several health issues. A sedentary lifestyle includes any awake time spent sitting or lying down with little energy use. It’s bad for your health because it decreases muscle use, blood flow, and the way your body handles sugar.
The research shows that doing a moderate to intense workout doesn’t help if you’re sitting too long. Dr. Rakesh Gupta from Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals says that sitting too much can lead to muscle loss, weaker bones, heart problems, and diabetes.
Risks of Too Much Sitting
Sitting a lot can make you more likely to get fat and develop high blood sugar or diabetes. When you sit for a long time, the enzyme that breaks down fats, called lipoprotein lipase, doesn’t work as well. This can lead to higher levels of fats and sugar in your blood, making you gain weight and develop insulin resistance over time. Standing up every 30 to 60 minutes helps wake up this enzyme, keeping your blood sugar and weight in check.
Want to know more about how sitting less can improve your health? Read the full article here.
