The sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of death, as previous studies have shown, but what about a sedentary job? Should you consider lifespan when deciding to work involving sitting in a cubicle all day?
The risk of death from heart disease was found to be one-third higher for those who predominantly sit at work compared to those who predominantly stand, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open.
However, spending the day sitting in a chair is a way of life for many of us. One in four adults sit for more than eight hours a day, while four in ten do not exercise moderately, a new survey from the CDC shows.
The study also shows that incorporating daily activities, whether at work or during leisure time, offsets the health risks associated with prolonged sitting at work. Walking to the break room for a coffee can be more beneficial for your eyes.
As part of modern lifestyle, prolonged sitting at work is considered normal and does not receive the attention it deserves, despite its proven negative effects on health outcomes, said Dr. Wayne Gao, Associate Professor at Taipei Medical University of Taipei Medical University of Taipei Medical University of Taipei Health, and lead author of the study, in a statement.
The study included 481,688 healthy men and women in Taiwan with no history of heart disease who were followed annually or biennially for 13 years. The average age was 40 at the start of the study. At each follow-up, participants completed a survey on their medical history, occupational sitting time, physical activity during leisure time, and other lifestyle factors, and underwent blood tests.
The group was divided into three sitting patterns: predominantly sitting, a mix of sitting and standing, and predominantly standing. Daily leisure-time physical activity was reported in five levels: none (<15 minutes), low (15-29 minutes), moderate (30-59 minutes), high (60-89 minutes), and very high (90 minutes ). A total of 26,257 deaths were recorded during the study period.