Sedentary work significantly reduces life expectancy. Sitting at a computer for 8 hours a day increases the risk of premature death by 15%, and 11 hours a day spent sitting increases this figure to 40.
The results of recent studies are disappointing: according to the World Health Organization, every year a sedentary lifestyle kills 5 million people worldwide; more than smoking – 4,9 million die from tobacco. It turns out that sitting is more dangerous than smoking.
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- Watching too much TV is bad!
Pain in the spine, weakening of the muscular corset, heart disease, bowel cancer – these are just some of the consequences that sedentary work can lead to. In addition, according to cardiologist François Carré, President of the Committee for the Study of the Effects of Sedentary Lifestyle**, inactivity leads to “pollution” of the body, as it activates oxidative processes in cells. This sets the stage for many diseases, including cancer.
What to do? Even daily sports activities are not enough if after them we do not move for long hours. However, there are many simple ways to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and its devastating consequences, even if we work in the office in front of a computer. Here are some of them:
- Instead of emailing a colleague, go up to them and talk in person.
- Place a cup of water on the work table so that it is constantly in your field of vision. Then you will drink every now and then, whether you like it or not. Water improves metabolic processes in the body, reduces appetite, and also helps to walk more often … to the toilet. Agree, it’s a good start.
- Even if there is a lot of work, do not eat in front of the computer – go out for lunch with colleagues for at least 15 minutes. After lunch, walk down the street for 5-10 minutes.
- Move your chair back from time to time and work standing up with your hands on the table. A change of position will stretch stiff muscles and improve blood circulation throughout the body.
- Set yourself a reminder on your phone that it’s time to stretch, for example by walking down the hallway and doing a few rotations with your arms and head. Let the device remind you of this every hour.
* observatoiresedentarite.com