Research from the University of Leicester confirms the link between prolonged sitting and risk of disease.

A team of researchers at the University of Leicester conducted a review and meta-analysis of 18 studies and nearly 800,000 participants.

The researchers searched several health databases to find studies that met their criteria. Comparing greatest sedentary time to lowest, the researchers determined that too much sitting is associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and death. Specifically, they found sitting led to an 112% increase in the relative risk of developing diabetes, a 147% increase in the relative risk for cardiovascular disease and a 49% increased risk of earlier death.

Two other recent studies found the same link:

• A team, again from the University of Leicester, studied more than 6,000 individuals to understand their sedentary time versus time spent getting some kind of physical activity. They determined that a woman’s risk of kidney disease grew with the number of unbroken hours spent in her chair.
• Another study, published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine in October, explored the link between television viewing time and risk of earlier death. A while back, a different study explored this link and was reported under headlines like Sitting Fewer Than Three Hours a Day Could Add Two Years to Your Life. The study’s author quickly downplayed the results, but this new study provides the necessary evidence to maintain the claim. The researchers found that every hour an Australian over the age of 25 spent sitting watching television reduced life expectancy by 21.8 minutes.

While the researchers involved in the study on television watching recommend further inquiry to confirm their findings, these two new studies add to the growing body of evidence that too much sitting wreaks havoc with our health.

So, do yourself a favor. Don’t just sit there. Get up every hour to move about. Use our list of 25 activities to help you light a fire under your seat. To receive a daily 2-minute break, follow  us on Twitter.

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