Stand Up!

We Sit Way Too Much

Unfortunately for most of us, the majority of our day involves sitting. When you drive – you sit. When you watch TV – you sit. When you have a desk job – you sit for eight hours straight. You would never guess it, but Many studies have shown that sitting for long periods of time can lead to some serious health effects. In fact, it has lead to the creation of the phrase, “sitting is the new smoking”.

Negative Impact Of Sitting:
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• In a 2012 – 2013 study from Preventing Chronic Disease, women who sat 6 hours or more were 2.5 times more likely to be obese.
• Prolonged sitting can slow our blood flow and metabolism, which can make you almost twice as likely to develop conditions such as high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, diabetes, and even certain types of cancers such as breast, lung, and colon.
• When you are standing or sitting up straight, the muscles in your body are actively engaged in order to keep you upright. However, when you are slouched in the chair, these muscles go unused. Your core is rarely used, causing a weak back and mushy abs. Your hip flexors tighten up and become short, limiting hip strength and mobility. A sedentary lifestyle can also cause the muscles in your legs to weaken and even your bones to lose density.
• Our back and neck suffer the brunt of the damage caused by sitting, especially if we sit with poor posture. People who sit more are at a greater risk for herniated disks, lower back pain, and permanent muscular imbalances in the neck and shoulders.

What can you do to combat these effects?

• Every hour, stand up and walk around the office for a few minutes.


• Walk down the hall and talk to a co-worker instead of sending an email.


• Take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever possible.


• Use an exercise ball as your chair – this will help engage your abs and lower back.

                                                                      *      Use a standing workstation.