NEW YORK — Sitting at your desk all day may put you at greater risk for heart disease — even if you work out in your spare time, according to new research.
This study was particularly helpful in investigating sitting because of its large sample size and the methodology it employed, Diaz said.
“We would really recommend that as many people as possible avoid sitting more than 10.6 hours a day,” Ajufo said.
The study is also observational, which means that while it can make associations, it can’t prove that the sitting was the cause of the heart disease, she added.
Unfortunately, the data suggested a good workout at the end of the day won’t necessarily undo the problems caused by long bouts of sitting, Ajufo said.
NEW YORK — Even if you exercise at your leisure time, sitting at your desk all day may increase your risk of heart disease, according to new research.
The first study author, Dr. Ezim Ajufo, a cardiology fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, stated, “Our findings really emphasize the importance of avoiding excess sitting… whether or not you’re physically active.”.
More research is necessary to determine the precise risks and the criteria for determining excessive sitting, even though it is widely acknowledged that excessive sitting is probably unhealthy, according to Dr. Keith Diaz, associate professor of behavioral medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. The research did not involve him.
According to Diaz, this study’s methodology and large sample size made it especially useful for examining sitting.
The study, which was published Friday in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, examined data from almost 90,000 individuals who wore an accelerometer for a week and compared their active and sedentary time with subsequent diagnoses of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure in subsequent years.
In addition to being linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, the study found that the data could provide a broad guideline for what might be considered excessive sitting.
As many people as possible should refrain from sitting for more than 10 to 6 hours every day, according to Ajufo. “We believe it’s a reasonable first step for guidelines and public health intervention, but it’s not a hard-and-fast threshold. “.”.
why sitting is so uncomfortable.
There are some limitations when it comes to the data.
The information was a component of the UK Biobank, a sizable biomedical database and research tool that tracks individuals over an extended period of time. Since the majority of the sample was White and of European descent, it is not entirely representative of the U.S. A. people, Ajufo stated.
She added that because the study is observational, it cannot establish a direct link between the sitting and the heart disease, even though it can identify correlations.
Diaz acknowledged that it makes sense that spending too much time sitting would have negative effects.
He went on to say that muscles play a critical role in controlling blood fat and blood sugar levels. For muscles to function properly, they must be moved.
“It doesn’t take much to give your muscles the stimulation they need to do their jobs by taking movement breaks,” Diaz said.
How to move.
The 10 and a half hours of sitting that come with commuting to and from work and spending the entire day in an office can quickly mount up.
Getting a standing desk might not be the solution, Diaz said.
Standing is undoubtedly not sitting, but he added that standing still like that prevents your muscles from moving in a way that would allow them to effectively break down fats and sugars.
He suggested that a treadmill desk or a bike might be useful. Another option is to see if you can have brief meetings while out for a walk.
According to Diaz, it’s crucial to incorporate movement into your day in a way that works for you and your schedule. He advised getting up and taking a quick stroll every 30 to 60 minutes or after completing one task before starting the next.
“Sadly, the data indicated that a good workout at the end of the day won’t necessarily undo the problems caused by long bouts of sitting,” Ajufo said.
“There are moments when we believe that going for a run will fully compensate for some of our unhealthy habits,” she said. What we can conclude from the results is that the negative effects of sitting cannot be countered by moderate to vigorous physical activity, such as jogging or a vigorous walk. “..”.
Don’t let the lack of activity depress you, though. According to Diaz, exercise is still a good idea and has many advantages for people.
He remarked, “You’re still happier than the person who sat all day and didn’t work out.”.
