Take a stand: the dangers of sitting and how to avoid them

Lead a sedentary lifestyle? Find out how you can reduce your risk of sitting-related health problems.

By now, you've probably heard the buzz phrase “sitting is the new smoking”. That might be a little bit of an exaggeration, but studies have shown that sitting for too long can cause more problems than scientist and health professionals previously thought.

It’s obvious that laziness and long hours of sitting on the couch without exercise can lead to obesity, but there’s more to it than that. Anyone could be at risk, even those who exercise regularly. Statistically, people who sit longer have shown to be more susceptible to breast cancer, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and even depression. Whether you’re sitting at home, or at your office desk, the risk is the same.

There are a few things you can do to decrease your risk of sitting-related health problems. The easiest thing you can do is take a short walk, once an hour. If you can avoid sitting for a full hour straight, you can drastically improve your health. Here are three other tips that can help:

Office workers are among the most prone to sitting-related health issues. There are many brands that offer stand-up desks and even desks that are capable of transitioning between sitting and standing. More and more, employers are seeing the benefits of offering their employees standing solutions for their work day. Many have noticed an improvement in both the mood and productivity of their employees by doing so. If you work in an office setting where sitting at your desk makes up most of your work day, it’s worth requesting a stand-up desk from your employer.

Do you take most of your calls from your desk? A cordless phone or Bluetooth headset can free you from your seat and give your body a needed break. By taking a short break to stand as you take your calls, you’re doing wonders for your health. Encourage your co-workers to do the same and you’ll all enjoy happy, healthy work days at the office.

Emails are usually the most efficient way to send a message across the office, but it contributes to longer periods of sitting. Try taking a walk to deliver your messages in person. Not only does it help your health, it will also help with your relationships with your co-workers. It’s also more social, so what have you got to lose?