One of the most damaging things you can do to your body is doing nothing at all. Being sedentary can do a number on your body—and it can be more dangerous to your lifespan and your risk of major diseases than you might think.
Adding to previous research of its kind, authors of a study of more than 300,000 people published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition saw that being sedentary was a major health hazard. Yet they also estimated that exercising a little bit—the equivalent of a 20-minute brisk walk daily—could reduce the risk of premature death in inactive people by as much as 16 to 30 percent.
In the U.S., fewer than 25 percent of adults meets the Physical Activity Guidelines of 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity and muscle-strengthening activities for all major muscle groups twice a week. And even if you think you’re an active person, you might be spending just enough time in front of your TV or stuck to your desk chair when you’re not at the gym to be putting your health at risk. Research published in JAMA Network Open found that people who spend most of the day sitting at work have a 34 percent higher risk of cardiovascular disease and a 16 percent higher risk of death from all causes than did people who didn’t spend most of the day rooted to a chair at work.
What’s more, the effects of staying seated go far beyond what you may think. Sure, your sedentary behavior can hurt your heart and raise your risk for inflammation-causing extra pounds. It might also be responsible for some more surprising issues too, including effects on your sex life, your mood, and your blood sugar.
Let these 7 sinister side effects of living a sedentary life inspire you to move a little bit every day. Read on to learn more—and to discover the easiest thing you can do right now to reverse the damage.
