Can sedentary activity lead to diabetes and cardiovascular disease?

Recent literature supports the growing scientific consensus that sitting for long periods of time has a negative impact on physical health, even for people who are active when not sitting.

An article in Diabetologia presents the results of a meta-analysis and systematic review, examining the association of sedentary activity with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality. Eighteen studies (794,577 participants) were reviewed and found that people with high amounts of sedentary behavior (sitting or lying down) had a significant increase in the relative risk of all four.

An article in British Journal of Sports Medicine focuses on prolonged television viewing and its possible relationship with life expectancy. According to a study that was conducted in Australia, someone who watches a lifetime average of 6 hours of television per day can expect to live 4.8 years less than someone who watches no television. The authors note that further study is required to confirm this.

How much time do you spend sitting at home and at work? For some tips and strategies for staying active, see the CDC’s section on Physical Activity.