Sitting for Over 10 Hours a Day Increases the Risk of Death: Study.

On the 25th of last month, Professor Edvard Sagelv from the University of Tromsø in Norway and his research team published a study in the 'British Journal of Sports Medicine' based on their research involving 11,989 participants from Norway, Sweden, and the UK. This study investigated the impact of a sedentary lifestyle, defined as sitting for over 10 hours a day, on health, and crucially concluded that moderate to high-intensity exercise can lower the risk of mortality.

 

Professor Sagelv's team noted that this study, being an observational one, cannot definitively establish causality.

 

The study analyzed data from four studies conducted between 2003 and 2016, involving 11,989 individuals aged 50 and above from Norway, Sweden, and the United States, who used wearable devices to measure their physical activity. Participants recorded activities of over 10 hours daily for a minimum of four days and were monitored for over two years.

 

The results categorized participants into two groups: those who sat for an average of less than 10.5 hours and those who sat for 10.5 hours or more. The latter group, who sat for over 12 hours a day, faced a 38% higher risk of death compared to those who sat for 8 hours, if their time spent in moderate to high-intensity exercise was less than 22 minutes.

 

However, engaging in moderate to high-intensity exercise for at least 22 minutes per day significantly reduced the risk of death. As exercise duration increased, the risk decreased further. This underscores the positive impact of 20-25 minutes of daily moderate to high-intensity exercise on health.

 

Professor Sagelv's team noted that this study, being an observational one, cannot definitively establish causality. Nevertheless, it is evident that incorporating even short bursts of moderate to high-intensity exercise into one's routine can mitigate the increased risk of death associated with prolonged periods of sitting. Therefore, addressing physical inactivity through even brief bouts of such exercise proves to be a highly effective strategy.

 

Based on these research findings, it is imperative that we increase movement in our daily lives and prioritize maintaining our health through moderate to high-intensity exercise. A healthy lifestyle will undoubtedly enrich our lives.