Fitness
The average person spends between eight and 15 hours a day
sitting. The human body, however, was not designed to sit for
extensive periods of time. Recent studies show just how
dangerous our sedentary lifestyles are. When we sit, our blood
circulation slows down, leading to a 50% decrease in artery
dilation after three hours, increasing our risk for clogged
arteries. Sitting for six hours a day has been linked to high blood
pressure and LDL cholesterol levels. People with long “sitting
times” are twice as likely to have cardiovascular disease as those
who sit less. Decreased circulation also leads to fluid retention in
the legs, swollen ankles, the development of varicose veins and
conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
After a day of sitting for too long, the bodies’ insulin response is
affected. This happens because cells in unused (stationary)
muscles don’t respond as readily to insulin, leading to our
pancreas producing increased amounts of insulin, increasing our
chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes and other diseases. In
fact, if you sit for up to eight hours a day, your chances of
developing Type 2 Diabetes is increased by up to 90%.
Studies have shown that sitting can increase chances for
developing certain cancers: lung cancer by 54%, uterine by 66%,
colon by 30%. This may be due to increased insulin levels which
encourages cell growth, weight gain, hormonal changes, leptin
dysfunction, metabolic dysfunction and inflammation. Regular
movement encourages antioxidant production in the body by
eliminating potential cancer causing free radicals.
Sitting during and after a meal can lead to issues such as
indigestion, heart burn, bloating and constipation as your food is
compressed making it harder to digest.