Sitting Kills: Here Are 8 Reasons Why

Sitting Kills, My Story

I can attest that “sitting kills” firsthand.  About five years ago, I was working on a writing project and other computer-related activities.  Being a dedicated and ambitious person, I tend to push myself more than normal. So, I was intently sitting on the front edge of my chair without proper back alignment, and I developed severe back pain.

The pain was so intense that I could not even walk.  I had to use an old broom handle to get around.  Then I had to crawl up the stairs to get to the second floor of my house.  After several visits to the chiropractor, it still took months to get back into shape. There were many times I began to seriously think I may NEVER be the same.

To make matters worse, I had scheduled a trip to a business convention which was two weeks after this happened.  I did everything I could think of to get “into shape” so I could keep my commitment.  I was able to make it to the event and somewhat enjoy the activities.  But it made such a huge lasting impression on me that I will never forget it.

The story has a happy ending, and I have totally recovered from my bad back.  I can take part in any activities that I wish, and I am as good as new.  Plus, I am now able to help YOU avoid any stress and anxiety from my experience by telling my story.  I hope you never have this problem. So please listen up!

How Bad is Too Much Sitting?

The average adult spends 50 to 70 percent of their day sitting in an office environment. Sitting is called the “new smoking”.  According to the Physical Activity Council 2014, 28% of Americans or 80.2 million people, aged six and older are physically inactive.  Only thirty minutes of some physical activity every day can halve the rate of premature death from heart disease and cancer.

About 30 percent of adults spend at least six hours a day during the week sitting around – and this rises to 37 percent on weekends.  Roughly one-third of people who are sedentary will have at least two major health conditions, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Katy Bowman, is a scientist on organ damage and author of the book: Move Your DNA: Restore Your Health Through Natural Movement.

She says “Active sedentary is a new category of people who work out for one hour but sit around the rest of the day… You can’t offset 10 hours of stillness with one hour of exercise.”

While a brief period of sitting here and there is natural, long periods of sitting day-in and day-out can impact your health and shorten your life.

Sitting Too Much is Linked to Health Problems!

Few of us realize the health consequences of this sedentary lifestyle or the effects on our society at large.   Sitting at a desk, behind a wheel or in front of a screen, can be harmful. We’re designed to be active and on the move all day long.  When you stop moving for extended periods of time, it’s like telling your body to shut down and prepare for death.

“True enjoyment comes from activity of the mind and exercise of the body; the two are ever united.” ~ Wilhelm von Humboldt

Dr. James Levine is co-director of the Mayo Clinic and the Arizona State University Obesity Initiative, and author of the book Get Up! Why Your Chair Is Killing You and What You Can Do About It. Levine’s research shows that we no longer use our bodies as they evolved to be used, and is a leading cause of diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

When you sit for a long period of time and then get up, your muscular and cellular systems activate.  These systems process blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol.  Levine explains that these molecular effects will activate by only carrying your own body weight.  These cellular mechanisms are also responsible for pushing fuel into your cells.  Regular movement will decrease your risk of diabetes and obesity.

Sedentary Lifestyle

Joan Vernikos PhD. and former Director of NASA’s Life Sciences Division substantiates groundbreaking new medical work.   She demonstrates how modern sedentary lifestyles contribute to poor health, obesity, and diabetes.  She confirms that health improves by a low-intensity movement that challenges the force of gravity.  In her book Sitting Kills, Moving Heals: How Everyday Movement Will Prevent Pain, Illness, and Early Death-and Exercise Alone Won’t, Vernikos shows how weightlessness weakens astronauts’ muscles, and bones. She presents a simple plan for maintaining good health for everyone who spends most of their lives sitting in chairs, at desks, and in cars. These easy-to-follow actions outline simple gravity-challenging activities.  Including standing up, stretching, walking, and dancing.  The activities are more healthful and effective than conventional diet and exercise regimens.

8 Reasons Sitting Kills

1. It Hurts Your Heart

Scientists noticed that transit drivers, who sit most of the day, are twice as likely to get heart disease as those that stand.

2. It Can Shorten Your Life

You’re more likely to die earlier if you sit for long stretches at a time.  It doesn’t help even if you exercise every day.

3. Dementia Is More Likely

If you sit too much, your brain can look like that of someone with dementia. Moving throughout the day can help more than exercise to lower your risk for health problems.

4. Raise Your Odds for Diabetes

Yup, you’re more likely to have diabetes if you sit all day. And, it isn’t only because you burn fewer calories.  It’s the actual sitting that seems to do it.  It is the way your body reacts to insulin. This hormone helps you to burn sugar and carbs for energy.

5. You’ll Gain Weight

Watch a lot of TV?  Surf the web for hours on end?  You’re more likely to be overweight.  If you exercise that is good, but it won’t make a dent in the extra weight you gain from too much screen time.

6. Your Anxiety Might Spike

Too much time alone may cause you to withdraw from your friends and family.

7. It Affects Your Back

The seated position puts huge stress on your back muscles, neck, and spine.  You can change chairs to a more ergonomic chair but, your back still won’t like it.  Get up and move around for a minute or two every thirty minutes.

8. Your Cancer Risk Goes Up

You may be more likely to get colon, endometrial, or lung cancer.  The more you sit, the higher the odds.  Older women have a higher risk of breast cancer.  That doesn’t change if you are super active but what matters is how much you sit.

Movement Can Slow Brain Aging

A March 2016 study in the online issue of Neurology found that regular exercise can slow brain aging by as much as 10 years. Loads of other research has found that people who regularly exercise are more productive at work.  Your brain is, after all, part of your body. If your body is healthy, it makes sense that your brain will operate better.

If you want to operate at your highest level, you need to take a holistic approach to life. You are a system. When you change a part of any system, you change as a whole. If you improve one area of your life, all other areas improve in a virtuous cycle.

What Is the Takeaway from This Information?

Andrea LaCroix, Ph.D., is the director of the Women’s Health Center of Excellence at the University of California, San Diego. She says ”Don’t demonize sitting.”  The message, she says, is to reduce sitting time by breaking it up. Although experts aren’t sure how often you need to get up, they suggest getting up about every 30 minutes if possible.

To Avoid Sitting Kills – You may want to start by simply standing rather than sitting.  Find chances to walk while you work.  For example:

• Take a break from sitting every 30 minutes
• Stand while you are on the phone or watching television.
• If you work at a desk, try a standing desk- or improvise with a high counter or table.
• Walk with colleagues for meetings rather than sitting in a conference room.
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
• Park your car further away from the entrance.
• Take a long way around to get to your desk.
• Organize your office to increase physical movement.  Do this by standing to reach files.  Stand to use the telephone, or your printer, rather than having everything in easy reach
• Use an exercise ball for a chair. Sitting on an exercise ball engages your core muscles and helps to improve balance.
• Set a timer to remind you to stand and move around.

Use movement as much as possible.  Physical activity helps maintain muscle tone, your ability to move, and your mental well-being.

I am Shirley Noah, an internationally known stress expert and entrepreneur.  If you would love to connect further with you to help you improve your health and well-being.  I can equip you with the necessary tools to achieve a “stress-free” life. For more options check out How To Outsmart Your Stress

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