Does sitting for longer hours really have an effect on the body?

Asked by: Erica Williams

Research has linked sitting for long periods of time with a number of health concerns. They include obesity and a cluster of conditions — increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels — that make up metabolic syndrome.

How many hours a day is too much sitting?

But when experts analyze the handfuls of studies examining the effects of prolonged sitting, the data shows that sitting for more than eight hours a day can have a serious impact on a person’s health.

What happens if you sit for 11 hours a day?

Adults who sit 11 or more hours per day have a 40 percent increased risk of dying in the next 3 years, compared with those who sat for fewer than 4 hours a day, according to a study led by the University of Sydney. This was after taking into account their physical activity, weight and health status.

What happens if you sit for 10 hours a day?

Being sedentary in moderation is unlikely to cause heart disease, according to a new review of past research. Researchers concluded that only very high levels of sedentary time — more than 10 hours a day — are linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular-disease-related death.

What happens if you sit 12 hours a day?

“Sitting increases your risk of death, regardless of whether you exercise or not. If you sat for over 12 hours on a given day, your risk of death increased substantially,” study author, Dr. Keith Diaz at Columbia University Medical Center said.

How often should I take a break from sitting?

Every 30 minutes

How often should you take breaks? Every 30 minutes is often suggested, especially for people who spend most of their day sitting or are otherwise inactive for a significant portion of the day.

Is lying down healthier than sitting?

However, a closer look reveals that the pressure on the spine is at its lowest when we are lying in the supine position (it is under eight times less pressure than when we’re sitting). It promotes most complete muscle relaxation, stress-relief and slower heartbeat.

Does sitting make your butt flat?

Sitting down is literally changing the shape of your butt. “An anterior pelvic tilt (tight hip flexors) can make your booty appear flatter,” Giardano said. You don’t have to quit your desk job to keep your butt looking it’s best. A few simple changes can prevent the negative side effects of sitting.

Does sitting make you fat?

Sitting increases your risk of weight gain
The fewer calories you burn, the more likely you are to gain weight. This is why sedentary behavior is so closely linked to obesity. In fact, research shows that people with obesity sit for an average of two hours longer each day than do people with a normal weight ( 5 ).

Is standing better than sitting?

Besides less sitting time, standing at work has other benefits: More calories burned: One study showed that standing sheds 88 calories an hour, compared to 80 calories for sitting. Walking burns a lot more — 210 calories an hour.

Does sitting affect metabolism?

It is thought excessive sitting slows the metabolism – which affects our ability to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, and metabolise fat – and may cause weaker muscles and bones. Research on astronauts in the early 70s found life in zero gravity was linked with accelerated bone and muscle loss and ageing.

How many hours of sitting is considered sedentary?

Prolonged sedentary behavior is defined as sitting — whether at a work desk or in front of the TV — for at least six hours per day. For most people who work a typical workday in an office, that’s probably on the low side, and even that amount of sitting around seems to extract high costs.

Does sitting make your thighs bigger?

Yes, according to the study, which was recently published in the journal Cell Physiology. The researchers concluded that the pressure placed on the buttocks and hips from too much sitting or lying down can generate significant fat build-up in those areas.

How do I tone my butt while sitting?

Butt clenches
While sitting at your desk, squeeze your glute muscles as hard as you can. Be sure to hold each squeeze for 10 seconds, then rest for 30 seconds. Repeat this 10 times, as many times as you like throughout the day.

Is it good to have a hard bum?

When the glutes are strong, an athlete gains a truly solid core that can handle the load and impact that comes from sporting activities, and there is significantly less stress in the knees and ankles with running and jumping. So, notice the hard butts of those athletes and figure out how you are going to get yours.