Again, they are sounding the warning that sitting for too long may lead to serious medical conditions like diabetes and heart diseases.
This is important news for many who work long hours in offices or whose job dictates that they stay put in a chair for a long time. But then, how can those working in customer relations department of telecommunication or aviation organisations — whose work demands that they stay glued to their chair — avoid sitting for at least six hours at a stretch?
Experts say people in this category may have to look for creative ways to be active in office to reduce their risks of developing coronary heart diseases and clogged arteries.
They say the more sedentary your life is, the shorter your lifespan will be.
Consultant cardiologist, Dr. Tope Aribisala, says sitting for too long has negative effects on the body because it shuts down the metabolic pathways and some major calorie-burning functions in the body, thus increasing one’s risks of being obese.
He states that being obese has been identified as a predisposing factor for diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and sudden death arising from strokes.
Aribisala says, “Though we have been saying that sitting for long is not good, many people do not take it seriously. It is simple, when you are sitting, many metabolic processes in your body stop. They take a break till you start moving again.
“When you stop moving by sitting in a position for long, fat is not burnt because bodily processes that should take up fat do not. Gradually, you build up fat cells that may increase your chance of strokes, diabetes, and even cancer. Anytime the body does not burn calories, fat cells build up.”
The cardiologist, however, notes that even jogging or exercising in the morning before going to work will not make up for sitting for long at work in the day.
He says, “Many people think because they exercise, they are exempted from this risk. They may be wrong, as sitting for long compromises all the benefits of going to the gym regularly. Even if you jog or work out every morning, if you sit for long at work, you are still at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
“Ideally, people should get up from their desk for five to 10 minutes at least once an hour. You should pace your work schedule such that you can take a walk or stretch it out every day.
Studies have also backed up Aribisala’s take on sitting for long. A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine by Cornell University researchers showed that less time sitting results in a longer life.
The scientists, in the study which involved 93,000 post-menopausal women, found that those who sat for more than 11 hours a day faced a 12 per cent increased chance of dying early when compared with the more active group.
The study revealed that those whose job did not involve any physical activity or exercise — the sedentary group — had increased odds of dying due to cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and cancer by 13 per cent, 27 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.
It appears that sitting for long poses more health risk in men when compared to women, according to findings in another recent research.
After studying 194,545 men between the ages of 45 and 106, Kansas State University researchers concluded that simply standing throughout the day reduces one’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease, heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, and colon cancer.
The study leader, Dr. Richard Rosenkranz, says sitting less than four hours a day was linked to a 12 per cent reduction in risk of developing any chronic disease, as well as a 25 per cent reduction in the risk of diabetes.
They found that sitting for long periods turns off the production of a molecule called lipoprotein lipase, or LPL, which helps the body to use fat for energy.
Therefore, you can no longer afford to be a couch potato at work, whatever the nature of your job. Experts say one must create time for breaks and stretches.
Aribisala advises that taking the stairs at work instead of the elevators and also going for 30 minutes’ walk, or simply standing for some minutes while working at your computer, will kick up your metabolism.
If you’re lucky to work in an organisation which has a gym, please make use of it too. Get moving!
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