New Delhi, November 5 (IANS). The biggest irony of modern life is that the more we progress, the more we have become dependent on comfort. Instead of walking, much of the work is being done in front of screens, in travel vehicles, and in armchairs. As a result, ‘sitting for long periods’ has become a new health problem today. Many researches were conducted in the last few years, which have proved that sitting for long periods of time is not just a habit, but is gradually becoming as harmful for the body as smoking. That’s why scientists have named it ‘Sitting is the new smoking.’
Studies by the American Heart Association and Harvard Medical School show that people who spend more than 8 hours a day sitting have a 20 to 40 percent increased risk of diseases like heart disease, obesity, diabetes and even cancer. Sitting slows down the metabolism, hampers blood circulation and the muscles become inactive. According to experts, continuous sitting also imbalances the insulin level of the body, which affects both sugar level and weight.
A British Medical Journal report published in 2023 found that people who sat for long periods of time had a 50 percent higher risk of premature death than people who walked or stood regularly during the day. The special thing is that going to the gym for one hour a day does not completely eliminate this loss. This is because the body needs movement every few hours, not exercise during any one part of the day.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned that about 5 million deaths worldwide every year are linked to ‘physical inactivity’, the biggest contributor to which is the habit of sitting for long periods of time. This inactivity is no longer limited only to the elderly or office workers but children and teenagers have also come under the same threat due to online classes and gaming.
Experts recommend that getting up every 30 to 40 minutes and walking for 3–5 minutes, climbing stairs or doing light stretching is very important for the body. Additionally, new work style techniques such as ‘standing desk’ and ‘active chair’ are also becoming increasingly popular.
Sitting for a long time does not show harm in a single day, but gradually it affects every system of the body. Just as smoking gradually weakens the lungs, inactivity slows down the functioning of the entire body. In today’s world where ‘work from desk’ has become common, it is even more important to understand that walking, standing and being active is not a hobby but a necessity.
–IANS
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