Sedentary behavior is turning into a serious public health problem. Despite being connected to a number of chronic health disorders, sedentary lifestyles seem to be becoming more and more common in many countries. The majority of people who lead sedentary lifestyles are unlikely to be meeting the recommended levels of physical activity.
Do you know how the sedentary lifestyle affects you? Learn it through this article, along with tips to change your habits!
Effects of a sedentary lifestyle
Living a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to: type 2 diabetes, early death due to cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Long stretches of inactivity can slow the metabolism and make it harder for the body to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and fat-burning processes.
This demonstrates why it’s crucial to spend less time sitting down and increase your fitness regimen. Sedentary behavior also seems to be detrimental to one’s mental health. It is particularly harmful to your health because it has both physical and mental effects.
Is a sedentary lifestyle worse than smoking?
It’s true, some experts now contrast smoking with a sedentary lifestyle! The number one preventable cause of mortality worldwide is physical inactivity, says Paul Menu, a cardiac surgeon and member of the French Federation of Cardiology.
This indicates that it poses a greater risk to human health than tobacco. More individuals die from sedentary lifestyles than from cigarette use, and screen time is especially associated with this, too.
Changing habits
Go Up the Stairs
A vigorous-intensity exercise like stair climbing can even burn more calories per minute than running. You may develop and maintain strong bones, joints, and muscles as well as a healthy weight by taking the stairs whenever you can.
Walk the parking area
Parking your car at the far end of the parking lot or further down the road from your destination is a simple approach to increase your daily step count, provided you can do so safely.
Similar to choosing the stairs over the elevator when possible, if you have the time and the physical capacity to walk a little further, you’ll get the health benefits of more movement.
Additionally, taking a short break outside to appreciate the sunshine or the changing of the seasons by walking across the parking lot or around the block from your workplace might be beneficial for your mental health.
Guidelines for reducing sitting time during work
It’s advised to practice the following: at least once an hour, get up and walk about. They advised performing this at least once every half-hour while under lockdown. When the team is present, schedule meetings where everyone stands or moves around. Try standing up when making all phone conversations. When your staff are at work, request that they take the stairs rather than the elevator.
[1]How to Fix a Sedentary Lifestyle. (2021). Very Well Health. https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-to-beat-a-sedentary-lifestyle-2509611
[2]What are the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle? (2018). Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322910#solutions
[3]Working and a sedentary lifestyle: what is the impact on employee health? (2020). Gymlib. https://blog.gymlib.com/en/hr-news/health/working-sedentary-lifestyle-impact-employee-health/
Even if your lifestyle doesn’t allow you to be super active, remember that a little bit of exercising is way better than no exercise at all!
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