Cutting your time spent sitting to less than three hours per day could increase your life expectancy by as much as two years. These are the conclusions of a recent statistical study authored by researchers from several universities, and published Monday in the British Medical Journal.
Using a combination of self-reported sitting time data gathered by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), as well as previous studies found on Medline that studied the relationship between sitting time and death, the researchers were able to determine that excessive daily sitting time of more than three hours per day resulted in life expectancies shortened by two years. They also linked T.V watching in particular with premature death as well, finding that more than two hours of television viewing daily cut life expectancy an average of 1.4 years.
"The results of this study indicate that extended sitting time and TV viewing may have the potential to reduce life expectancy," the researchers wrote.
We should take into account that the research does not prove a direct connection between sitting too often on one's keister, or watching too much American Idol and early death, and the researchers admit that their study does not do so, or attempt to do so.
It could be that people who tend to sit around more often also engage more regularly in other unhealthy pursuits, such as the smoking of cigarettes, and the eating of Twinkies, which would skew the life expectancy for all sitters and watchers unfairly.
Still, this isn't the first study to show noticeable links between inactivity and premature death or other serious health problems such as heart disease and diabetes, so it's hard not to take the statistics seriously.
What's most frightening about the statistics the researchers gathered is that survey respondents reported spending an average of 55% of their time engaged in sedentary behaviour, a mark drastically above the 3 hour target.
It doesn't help that more and more jobs are now performed in front of computer screens than ever before, and the trend will only continue to intensify in the coming years, making it virtually impossible for many of us to avoid too much time sitting.
How much time do you spend sitting each day? Is there a solution to this growing problem of sedentary lifestyles? Give us your take...just be quick about it if you're sitting...
