Study Raises Concerns About Long Periods of Sitting
Spending long periods sitting without getting up may be less healthy than simply having a generally inactive lifestyle, according to a large study. Researchers found that each additional hour of daily prolonged sitting was associated with a 9% higher risk of death from cancer. The study also found that replacing one hour of sitting with light physical activity was associated with about a 12% lower risk of cancer death.The research was conducted by Frederick Ho and colleagues at the University of Glasgow.
Breaking Up Sitting Time May Be Beneficial
The study found that prolonged, uninterrupted sitting was associated not only with a higher risk of cancer death but also with the risk of developing cancer overall. The researchers also observed associations with several cancers linked to obesity, including cancers of the oesophagus, liver, kidney, pancreas, colon, breast, ovary and thyroid. However, these findings show an association rather than proof that prolonged sitting directly causes cancer or cancer deaths.
Light Activity May Help Reduce the Risk
According to the study, replacing some sitting time with light physical activity was associated with lower risks across the major health outcomes examined. The findings suggest that regularly breaking up long periods of sitting by standing up, walking briefly or doing light activity may be beneficial for overall health. Researchers caution that an individual’s cancer risk depends on several factors, and the study findings should not be interpreted as a direct prediction of cancer risk for any one person.
