It is common knowledge that inactivity is bad for your health. However a new study shows that there may be more this than just the inactivity factor. An article on the New York Times points out:

In a study published in May in the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, they reported that, to no one’s surprise, the men who sat the most had the greatest risk of heart problems. Men who spent more than 23 hours a week watching TV and sitting in their cars (as passengers or as drivers) had a 64 percent greater chance of dying from heart disease than those who sat for 11 hours a week or less. What was unexpected was that many of the men who sat long hours and developed heart problems also exercised. Quite a few of them said they did so regularly and led active lifestyles. The men worked out, then sat in cars and in front of televisions for hours, and their risk of heart disease soared, despite the exercise. Their workouts did not counteract the ill effects of sitting.

Most likely, this is due to blood not fully circulating while you are in the sitting position.

You may be wondering why I am posting this on a technology blog. The reason is simply that many people in the tech/IT world do spend large periods of time sitting in front a computer. While the study focuses on TV watching and car driving, you can easily replace this with being in front of a computer.

So what can you do if you fall into this category? Take more “stand up” breaks… walk around the room a bit when you have been sitting for an extended period of time.

Like what you read?

If so, please join over 28,000 people who receive our exclusive weekly newsletter and computer tips, and get FREE COPIES of 5 eBooks we created, as our gift to you for subscribing. Just enter your name and email below: