New research adds weight to the argument that sitting for long periods of time can be dangerous to your health. An international study of more than 100,000 people in 21 countries found that people who sat for six to eight hours a day had a 12-13% increased risk of early death and heart disease, while those who sat for more from eight hours a day, increase. that to the sobering 20 percent.
The study, co-led by Simon Fraser University professor of health, Scott Lear and Wei Li of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences in Beijing, was published today in the journal Jama Cardiology. Their research followed individuals for an average of 11 years and found that long sitting times were associated with an increased risk of early death and cardiovascular disease. While sitting was problematic in all countries, it was especially in countries with low and lower average incomes.
“The main message here is to keep you to a minimum,” says Lear. “If you have to sit down, more exercise at other times of the day will offset this risk.
Not surprisingly, those who sat the most and were the least active had the highest risk – up to 50 percent – while those who sat the most but were also the most active, had a significantly lower risk of about 17 percent.
“For those who sit for more than four hours a day, replacing half an hour with exercise reduces the risk by two percent,” Lear said. “As only one in four Canadians meets the guidelines, there is a real opportunity for people to increase their activity and reduce their chances of early death and heart disease.
The study found a specific link in lower-income countries, leading researchers to speculate that this may be due to the fact that sitting in higher-income countries is usually associated with higher socio-economic status and more well paid jobs.
Clinicians need to focus on less sitting and more activity, as this is a cheap intervention that can be of great benefit, Lear said.
But while clinicians need to convey the message of counteracting sedentary activity, people need to better value their lifestyle and take their health seriously, Lear added. “Our study found that the combination of sitting and inactivity accounted for 8.8% of all deaths, which is close to the contribution of smoking (10.6% in the Lear and Lee study). “This is a global problem that has a remarkably easy solution. Scheduling time to get up from this chair is a great start.
Article title
Association of sitting time with mortality and cardiovascular events in high, middle and low income countries
Date of publication of the article
June 15, 2022
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