A new study contradicts an earlier belief that long hours of sitting is bad for health and increases the risk of death.
Several studies have been conducted about the effects of long sitting hours, and there were also recommendations on how to offset the hazards. Sitting too long was found to increase the risks of developing cancer, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and chonic diseases. However, a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Exeter claims that prolonged sitting is not linked to any of these reported health and death risks.
The researchers involved 5,000 participants, who were asked to provide information on their total sitting time and their sitting behavior. Their walking time, physical activity level, age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, general health, smoking, alcohol consumption and diet were also factored in the analysis.
After 16 years of follow-up, the researchers found no significant link between long sitting hours and increased death risk.
"Our study overturns current thinking on the health risks of sitting and indicates that the problem lies in the absence of movement rather than the time spent sitting itself. Any stationary posture where energy expenditure is low may be detrimental to health, be it sitting or standing," Dr Melvyn Hillsdon from Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter said in a press release.
"The results cast doubt on the benefits of sit-stand work stations, which employers are increasingly providing to promote healthy working environments."
The researchers clarified that they are not discouraging people from doing their physical activities. Earlier studies have recommended people who often sit too long to fidget or walk an extra two minutes per hour to lower their risk of death.
The study was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
