Too much sitting linked to an early death

A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that sitting for long stretches of time

A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that sitting for long stretches of time increases the odds of an untimely death. The more hours women in the study spent sitting at work, driving, lying on the couch watching TV, or engaged in other leisurely pursuits, the greater their odds of dying early from all causes, including heart disease and cancer.

The study showed that sitting for long hours expend fewer calories than one would while standing, and one demands little effort from his/her muscles. Sitting too much can also lead to other behaviors that contribute to obesity and heart disease.

The study suggests an easier, no-cost solution is to set smartphone timer to go off every 30 to 60 minutes during the day. When the alarm rings, one should move around the office to avoid any prolonged sitting at one time.