Many people today spend most of their day sitting. If you work in an office or from home, chances are you are one of them. Sitting is inevitable at those types of jobs. Also, many of us spend a lot of time on our PCs or watching TV. Even if you work out regularly that doesn’t mean you cannot be affected by too much sitting. Recent studies have shown how dangerous this can be for our overall health. Here are some of the things that can go wrong if you spend too much time in your chair.
Obesity
The first thing you can think of when we are talking about too much sitting is obesity, and that is quite reasonable. Studies have shown that obese people sit 2.5 hours more than others. If being overweight is not a big enough reason to stop doing this, try thinking about many other chronic diseases obesity can lead to, such as heart disease, diabetes or stroke. Studies have shown that people who spend too much time sitting are 73 percent more likely to develop metabolic syndromes. By reducing the time you spend in front of the television and PC to just one hour per day, you can drastically reduce the chances of developing this disorder.
Chronic disease
As easily as it can trigger obesity, too much sitting can have part in developing a chronic disease. High blood pressure, heart disease, cancer and diabetes are some of the chronic diseases which sedentary lifestyle can lead to. The more time you spend in your chair, higher are the chances of developing one of these serious diseases. According to the recent studies, sitting more than 6 hours a day significantly increases chances of developing diabetes and this is the most widespread disease people who sit too much can face.
Poor mental health
Sitting too much does not only affect our bodies but our minds as well. Some people spend so much time in their chairs because of their job and some simply because of their sedentary lifestyle. Whatever your reason for sitting too much is, it has a negative effect on your mind. People who do not do this and have healthier habits show more signs of happiness and have better mental health. Therefore it would be a great improvement to reduce the time you spend in your chair and exercise instead.
If you do not want to take your chances with the possibility of developing some serious diseases, you should try to find other ways to spend your free time instead of sitting in front of TV. On the other hand, if you work in an office and are sentenced to sitting during most of the day, try to find ways to get up from time to time and think of other ways to move more than you usually do. Park your car far away from your workplace or think of a longer route when you are going to buy something or going to the bathroom. Sitting too much can have a negative impact on both your physical and mental health and therefore you should always think of a reason to get up and reduce the time you spend on your chair.
