- With Mayo Clinic endocrinologist
James A. Levine, M.D., Ph.D.
Staying healthy (9)
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- Cellphones and cancer: What's the risk?
- Immunization: Are you immune to a disease?
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Dental care (7)
- When to brush your teeth
- Heart disease prevention: A link to oral health?
- Dental floss vs. water pick: Which is better?
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Skin care (7)
- Foods for healthy skin: Top picks
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- see all in Skin care
Nail care (4)
- Split fingernails: Can they be prevented?
- Nail ridges: Cause for concern?
- Acrylic nails: Can they harm natural nails?
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Eye care (2)
- Eye exam: Is a laser retina scan worthwhile?
- Choosing sunglasses: Is UV protection important?
Sleep (5)
- Melatonin side effects: What are the risks?
- How many hours of sleep are enough?
- Sleep aids: Could antihistamines help me sleep?
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Mental health (2)
- Hoarders: When does a hobby become an obsession?
- Passive-aggressive behavior: What are the red flags?
Healthy at work (5)
- Night shift and cancer: Any connection?
- Shift work: Improving daytime sleep
- Leg pain after prolonged standing or sitting: A concern?
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Question
Is sitting really bad for my health?
Can too much sitting hurt my health?
Answer
from James A. Levine, M.D., Ph.D.
Researchers have linked sitting for prolonged periods with a number of health problems and premature death from cardiovascular disease. In one study, adults who spent more than four hours a day sitting in front of the television had an 80 percent increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared with adults who spent less than two hours a day in front of the TV. This risk was independent of other risk factors such as smoking or diet.
And it's not just TV watching. Any extended sitting — whether that's at a desk or behind the wheel — increases your risk. What's more, a few hours a week at the gym doesn't seem to significantly offset the risk.
Rather, the solution seems to be less sitting and more moving. Simply by standing, you burn three times as many calories as you do sitting. Muscle contractions, including the ones required for standing, seem to trigger important processes related to the breakdown of fats and sugars. When you sit down, muscle contractions cease and these processes stall.
Next questionWill an air purifier remove cigarette smoke?
- Dunstan DW, et al. The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab). Circulation. 2010;121:384.
- Katzmarzyk PT, et al. Sitting time and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 2009;41:998.
- Levine JA. Move a Little, Lose a Lot. New York, N.Y.: Crown Publishers; 2009:26.
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