If you sit for a long time, what happens to the body

Sadly, but almost 8 out of 10 people sit almost every minute of their working day – at the table, at the computer. And they sit passively. Of course it’s easy. Because of this simplicity, many people use seating in excess, believing that nothing bad will happen. Research shows that people today burn 120-140 fewer calories per day than in 1960, and slowly but surely gain weight (about 4 kilograms per year). But the worries of doctors are not even caused by the increase in body weight due to constant sitting, but by its harmful effects on health. What happens to you when you sit for a long time, and can you resist it?

1. You can say goodbye to good cholesterol after 2 hours of sitting

Like a light switch, the energy is turned off the moment your ass reaches the chair. Calories begin to be burned much more slowly, and the content of lipoprotein lipase (an enzyme that promotes the breakdown of fats) drops sharply and rapidly. This enzyme also plays an important role in converting low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) to high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol). Scientists at the University of Ohio found that sitting for 8 hours or more (which is a standard working day for most office workers) reduces the enzyme’s ability to convert bad cholesterol into good cholesterol by 95%.

2) your muscles will ache

Right now, as you read this paragraph, think about how you sit. Where is your head tilted, where are your feet, where are your hands, how do you feel? Never paid attention to it? This is bad, it’s better not to ignore such things. If you sit properly, the negative impact is somewhat reduced. Take care of your posture. When you are standing, ears, shoulders, hips, knees and ankles should be in the same vertical. The same rule works if you are sitting, with the only exception that the ears, shoulders, hips are one vertical, knees and ankles are the other. If you do not learn to sit correctly, then over time your back and neck will start to ache, and you may even have difficulty breathing.

3. The risk of obesity increases 2,5 times

In fact, your chances of becoming more obese are doubled if you sit for six hours a day, compared to 2 minutes every hour. At the same time, experts say, prolonged sitting is more dangerous for human health than the same obesity.

4. Increased risk of cancer, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease

Extra pounds, making you sedentary, will make a dent in your life expectancy. Doctors have repeatedly noted that inaction kills people and is one of the most serious threats to health. Cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease are more dangerous when your level of physical activity is low.

5. The risk of dying earlier increases

Almost 4% of all deaths can be attributed to a sedentary lifestyle. Spending more than 6 hours a day in a chair and limiting movement increases your risk of death by 94%. But if you sit less than 3 hours a day, then you can safely add 2 years to your life.

What if your working day is at the office?