Sitting Down Too Long Is Bad Even If You Exercise

Ant tips the week-old news that sitting down too much is not good for you, even if you are otherwise fit. A blog at the LA Times reports a followup from Swedish exercise experts: they propose "establishing a new way of thinking about sedentary behavior. They suggest abolishing 'sedentary behavior' as a synonym for not exercising. Instead, sedentary time should be defined as 'muscular inactivity' to distinguish it from not doing any exercise at all." These experts warn that the excessively sedentary are running serious health risks, irrespective of how much exercise they get when they're not plonked behind a desk or lying on a sofa.

My excuse

[hedgemage]

I can't remember things when I'm standing. I think its because I keep all my thoughts in my lap and when I stand up, they fall on the floor and roll under the desk.

I'll stay in my sofa

[Permutation Citizen]

They can run any study they want, people get badly injured doing sports, not sitting on a sofa.

Re:Misinformation && Contradictions

[BenevolentP]

It IS news since the genereal (and imo true) belief is that you can make up for hours behind your desk by exercising when you're not. From the article: "Avoid sitting for prolonged periods and keep in mind to move more, more often." I think Ill increase my smoke break frequency from now on.

Re:Medical Advice from the Economic Times?

[XavidX]

Im done for. I sat in front of the TV at least 6 hours last week.

18% * 5 = 108%

What about smokers ?

[f0rk]

I go and take a smoke every 1-2h, and walk up and down 3 stories of stairs every time. Am i in risk ?
I KNEW there were good sides of smoking !!

Re:Medical Advice from the Economic Times?

[Xest]

That's quite impressive, it means that theoretically I should die before I finish typing out this respon

It is the statistics

[Anonymous Coward]

Most causes for increased mortality come from statistical studies. Ergo, it is the statistics that are the main cause, not the thing they make statistics of. If those pesky researchers would just stop making so many statistics, we all would live longer and happier!

Re:Insurance?

[Anonymous Coward]

The intense nightmares are what makes quitting smoking worthwhile. I don't crave cigarettes anymore, but damn do I miss my own personal holodeck.

Re:I for one am not convinced

[Ihmhi]

No, no, think of the greater good. Let the papers slide. Maybe OSHA will read them and require having comfy recliners on every job site as a safety requirement.

Re:More to the point...

[Malc]

Is basic maths not your strong point?

Obligatory xkcd reference

[jonaskoelker]

You forgot this one: http://xkcd.com/189/ [xkcd.com]

I'm currently working on my STR score (push-ups, sit-ups, biceps curl, etc.) and my base attack bonus (fencing). I might also get Proficiency: Martial Weapon (Foil).

All that exercise spills over into my INT score as well ;)

Re:Misinformation && Contradictions

[Anonymous Coward]

My job also requires me to fly a bit. Almost every year I make 12 hour flights. Last year I bought one of those "compression socks" at Charles de Gaulle Airport (15 Euro IIRC) before my long flight.
The compression socks did provide a nice relief during the flight, and according to a bit I have been reading they are good for circulation.

I just continously kick the seat in front of me, it is also good for the circulation.

Re:Medical Advice from the Economic Times?

[moonbender]

Wow. His head must have hit the Submit button falling down.

Re:I'll stay in my sofa

[codeButcher]

On the other hand, that equips people just fine for government jobs where I come from - although being able to plan to "the end of the month" might already be a big disqualifier in some departments.

Re:Synonyms

[PopeRatzo]

I go to "working man's" bars where construstion workers hang out.

I may have just learned more than I want to about you. Don't worry, I won't tell your wife and kids.

Say, are there cops and indians at this bar, too? And bears?

Keep hanging around there. You'll get more "exercise" than you need.

Re:I for one am not convinced

[jeffmeden]

so they stamp out an 8-page paper with more authors than pages, in a journal called "Circulation" from the American Heart Association , whose slogan is Learn and Live. (Bias anyone?)

Not only that, the study was done on AUSTRALIANS! As everyone knows, things happen south of the equator in exactly the opposite way they happen north of the equator. Being a resident of North America, I need to turn this paper upside down and read it backwards to arrive at the proper statistics that apply to me.

Re:My excuse

[greyline]

Occasionally, I will shuffle my way over to my pantry from my computer to procure another bag of Cheetos and perhaps a Mnt Dew Code Red. Every now and then, I'll also have to empty the used bottles of Mnt Dew of urine too. My standing up and moving around requirements are thus securely met.

Re:I for one am not convinced

[woozlewuzzle]

And, as everyone knows, Australia is entirely populated by criminals.

Re:My excuse

[tehcyder]

I really need a companion if I'm to do it again, it got a bit dull going alone.

a/s/l?

Re:My excuse

[lupinstel]

Thats ok, the caffeine in Mountain Dew elevates your heart rate so it is like working out. But remember that you need to keep it elevated for at least 30 minutes to get any benefit. May I suggest a 2 liter and a straw.

Re:One reason why not moving is making you sick:

[weicco]

You took the worms right out of my mouth :D