Sitting For Long Hours Could Lead To Diabetes, Heart Disease and Obesity

Hate it when the TV remote is not around and you've to stand up to change channels? Well, it's time you start loving the practice, for experts have said that long periods of sitting down could lead to diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even obesity.

In a new study, it has been shown that most people spend just one hour of their waking day not seated.

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And now, for the first time, Australian researchers will try to track just how much lounging around people do and whether simple tasks, like standing up to turn the TV off, can improve health.

Experts have predicted that time spent between watching the TV, working and travelling, in total consumes 14 hours of a day - with most people only awake for 15 hours.

And researchers believe that if we change the way we sit, and exercise at least 30 minutes a day, it could reduce the risk of developing lifestyle diseases.

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Paul Gardiner, Queensland University's Cancer Prevention Research Centre spokesman, said that older people were the worst for lounging around.

"It's not always how long you sit but also the way you sit. Studies have shown by having regular breaks it could alter blood glucose levels which are linked to diabetes," The Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying.

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He added: "We are trying to get people to avoid prolonged sitting."

The researchers revealed that kids are seated for up to 44 per cent of day, not including sleeping, but it increases to 56 per cent by adulthood.

In seniors, 65 per cent of their day is seated.

Gardiner suggested that people find ways to stand up while doing everyday activities, such as standing while on the phone.

"If you are watching the TV, put the remote on top and stand up to change channels. In the office, get up and go for a walk after you are on the telephone. Move bins and printers to a central location so workers have to stand up and walk," he said.

Source-ANI
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