Is Sitting Really Killing You?

There's no question that sitting for prolonged periods of time during the day isn't good for you, but is it really killing you? Recent studies have confirmed (once again) that sitting for  11 hours or more a day can lead to a 40% increase in your risk of dying in the next three years. For many of us, including myself, this does not bode well considering we spend the majority of our day at a desk. What's even more unfortunate is that the recommended 30 minutes to an hour of daily exercise cannot cancel out the negative effects of prolonged sitting, though it can help. So what CAN you do when you're restricted to a desk job for the majority of the day? Researches suggest breaking up your sitting time with short walks or briefs bouts of exercise (such as a few jumping jacks every hour or so). Also, it's important to avoid being sedentary after leaving the office. This means no going home and parking it on the couch while you watch TV for a couple hours – instead try going for a walk or multitask by watching TV while using an elliptical machine or treadmill. Another option is to invest in a stand up desk, which is also known to help alleviate back pain and improve posture. Check out the infographic below to learn more about how sitting is affecting your health: