Could Sitting in an Office be More Dangerous to Your Health Than Smoking?

Research reveals the effects of having an office job – and how to combat the health risks.

21 March, 2018
Could Sitting in an Office be More Dangerous to Your Health Than Smoking?

According to a recent study, having an office-based job or spending most of the week sat in front of a computer could be more dangerous to your health than smoking.

The study, published in medical journal the Lancet, found that adults who sit for at least eight hours a day could increase the risk of premature death by up to 60 per cent.

Scientists have explained that sedentary lifestyles pose as great a threat to public health as smoking, and are causing more deaths than obesity.

Cancer, diabetes and heart disease are the most likely causes of death linked to sedentary lifestyles.

To counter the risks of spending too much of the day sat down, people should always balance a sedentary lifestyle with at least one hour of exercise per day – even a brisk walk or a few short walks spread over the day could be enough to combat the dangers of eight hours sitting in an office.

The study looked into the health and lifestyle of over a million people and classed people depending on how active they were. Those who sat for eight hours a day but were physically active outside of work had a much lower risk of premature death compared with people who sat for fewer hours a day, but were not active in their free time.

​Via

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