This is a question definitely many of us should ponder - Those writers and researchers who have to spend several hours before a desktop / laptop !
James A. Levine, M.D., Ph.D. answers this query (see link) as follows:
"Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
One recent study compared adults who spent less than two hours a day in front of the TV or other screen-based entertainment with those who logged more than four hours a day of recreational screen time. Those with greater screen time had:
A nearly 50 percent increased risk of death from any cause
About a 125 percent increased risk of events associated with cardiovascular disease, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack
The increased risk was separate from other traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking or high blood pressure.
Sitting in front of the TV isn't the only concern. Any extended sitting — such as behind a desk at work or behind the wheel — can be harmful. What's more, spending a few hours a week at the gym or otherwise engaged in moderate or vigorous activity doesn't seem to significantly offset the risk.
Rather, the solution seems to be less sitting and more moving overall. You might start by simply standing rather than sitting whenever you have the chance.
For example:
Stand while talking on the phone or eating lunch.
If you work at a desk for long periods of time, try a standing desk — or improvise with a high table or counter.
Better yet, think about ways to walk while you work:
Walk laps with your colleagues rather than gathering in a conference room for meetings.
Position your work surface above a treadmill — with a computer screen and keyboard on a stand or a specialized treadmill-ready vertical desk — so that you can be in motion throughout the day.
The impact of movement — even leisurely movement — can be profound. For starters, you'll burn more calories. This might lead to weight loss and increased energy.
Even better, the muscle activity needed for standing and other movement seems to trigger important processes related to the breakdown of fats and sugars within the body. When you sit, these processes stall — and your health risks increase. When you're standing or actively moving, you kick the processes back into action. "
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/expert-answers/sitting/faq-20058005
Our bodies evolved to move so it is likely that spending too much time in a stationary position, either prone or sitting will not be good for us.
It is difficult to see how sitting would necessarily cause a degeneration in mental power though. Professor Stephen Hawking a sufferer of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been in a sitting position for decades but he is considered one of the cleverest people on Earth. It is clear that one's brain can be kept exercised even if the body does not or cannot move much.
Dear @Sundar, thank you for the question, Sometimes we forget to take a breath and sit down for long time; this causes many health complications and diseases.
You explained it very well in your description!. Numerous studies have pointed to the health risks of sitting all day. The human body simply isn't built to sit all day at a desk or for hours .
A new study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggests that sitting is also connected to cancer – not all types, but to colon and endometrial (uterine) cancer. And it’s not just because sitting takes us away from exercising – even those who sit a lot and exercise have an increased risk for these cancers. This means that there’s something intrinsic about the unhealthiness of sitting apart from lack of exercise.
To study this question, the team from University of Regensburg carried out a meta-analysis of 43 earlier studies, including over 4 million people. The studies had all periodically queried the participants on how much time they spent sitting – TV-related sitting, occupational sitting, and total sitting time. Over the years, there were almost 69,000 cancer cases.
The more a person sat, the higher the cancer risk for two types of cancer: Endometrial and colon. Sedentariness was linked to a 24% increased risk of colon cancer and a 32% higher risk of developing endometrial cancer.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2014/06/17/how-sitting-for-long-periods-might-contribute-to-certain-cancers/
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/news/20140407/sitting-disease-faq?page=3
Why is Yoga promoted? What are the time records of Yogi that stayed in a fixed position? Buddha: 5 years?
Dear Marcel - "Sitting too much" refers to a sitting posture as in a computer chair or office chair.. Yogic posture like Padmasana (Lotus-Position) is not the query.. I don't know if people can do such Asanas (Positions) for several hours, but Yogas along with proper breathing techniques (Prana-yama) are supposed to help to relax and maintain good health..
Our bodies evolved to move so it is likely that spending too much time in a stationary position, either prone or sitting will not be good for us.
It is difficult to see how sitting would necessarily cause a degeneration in mental power though. Professor Stephen Hawking a sufferer of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been in a sitting position for decades but he is considered one of the cleverest people on Earth. It is clear that one's brain can be kept exercised even if the body does not or cannot move much.
Sitting for long periods of time can affect a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
sitting for longer time problems of obesity,harmonal imbalance,prone for metabolic disorders.these people are prone for biood pressure.hyperlipidemia and cardiac problems. after exercise the circulation of energy and activity on cellular level and molecular level. so if prolonged sitting invites many health problems at the same time exercise prevents it.thank you
It's been said that "sitting is the new smoking" because too much sitting can lead to serious health problems. Poor circulation, higher cholesterol levels and oversized waists are a few of the problems associated with too much sitting. The impairment in endothelial function is significant after just 1 hour of sitting. It is interesting to see that light physical activity can help in preventing this impairment. Just a nice, leisurely stroll will do the job.
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/healthscience/2014/September/Five-Minute-Hourly-Walk-Reduces-Risks-of-Sitting/
Sitting too much may be a good cause for obesity. It may also cause diseases like- arthritis, gout, spondalitis etc. , though sit-ups are good for health.
The following link from the Mayo clinic discusses this issue:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/adult-health/expert-answers/sitting/faq-20058005
What are the risks of sitting too much?
Answers from James A. Levine, M.D., Ph.D.
Researchers have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome — a cluster of conditions that includes increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels.
Too much sitting also seems to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
One recent study compared adults who spent less than two hours a day in front of the TV or other screen-based entertainment with those who logged more than four hours a day of recreational screen time. Those with greater screen time had:
A nearly 50 percent increased risk of death from any cause
About a 125 percent increased risk of events associated with cardiovascular disease, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack
The increased risk was separate from other traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking or high blood pressure.
Sitting in front of the TV isn't the only concern. Any extended sitting — such as behind a desk at work or behind the wheel — can be harmful. What's more, spending a few hours a week at the gym or otherwise engaged in moderate or vigorous activity doesn't seem to significantly offset the risk.
Rather, the solution seems to be less sitting and more moving overall. You might start by simply standing rather than sitting whenever you have the chance.
Health Risk factors are implies sitting time nowadays. It is a leading factor to morbidity and mortality.
There are now new projects where students remain stand-up during education courses in class rooms. Students apparently remain mentally more focused standing up than sitting down
Marcel
Excellent comment. I have seen a new innovation at work already where seminars groups are taken on a walk around the campus and stop every so often to talk about academic issues. I watched one example and they certainly seemed to be paying attention as well as there being no phones or tablets in sight.
There is a management style for leading and controling subordinates called, Management by walking around (MBWA). In addition to the known advantages for this style in managing and controlling people, it can also be beneficial in avoiding sitting too long at work.
Prolonged sitting has been linked to high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol, and people with the most sedentary time are likely to have cardiovascular disease more than twice than those with the least. Investigative reports have linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns, including obesity, metabolic syndrome and a huddle of conditions including increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels. Too much sitting appears to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. According to a recent study, those who logged more than four hours a day in screen-based (like TV/Computer monitor, etc.) entertainment or other activities have nearly 50 percent increased risk of death from any cause and about a 125 percent increased risk of events associated with cardiovascular disease, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack as compared to those who spent less than two hours a day screen time.
People who sit too much may be at increased risk for colon or endometrial cancers
http://www.shape.com/blogs/shape-your-life/sitting-worse-we-thought-california-rejects-sugary-drink-warnings-and-why-you
Prolonged sitting for watching TV, using a computer, reading, doing homework, travelling by car, bus or trains where we normally don’t think about posture, thought to slow the metabolism, which affects the body's ability to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and break down body fat. Long hours on the couch or behind a desk raise the risk of chronic health ills like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, along with premature death. Our posture which influences the alignment of the spine and thereby the overall health, is an important dimension of health, which doesn't get the attention it deserves. In Yoga, correct posture for prolong sitting is very well defined. The spine is the central channel of the nervous system, and when spine is healthy, the pathways of the nervous system are strong and clear, and vital energy flows unimpeded, creating maximum vitality and well-being.
Major health risk is that blood can stay pool in the legs after just 1 hour of sitting, which prevents sufficient blood flow to the heart.
Work involving long-term sitting at the computer is associated with limited physical activity. Therefore, the risk of increased obesity and the deterioration of health related to the blood system is growing. There is also a growing risk of developing haemorrhoids. There may be a significant deterioration of sight, the appearance of eye defects in connection with the constant staring at the laptop monitor.
People who sit for long periods of time are more likely to be overweight or obese. Regular sitting for longer time increases your risk of health conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Inactivity is believed to play a direct role in the development of insulin resistance.
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