SITTING IS THE new smoking, with experts calculating it kills 70,000 people prematurely every year. Now new research reveals that millions could also be further putting themselves at risk with long hours sitting down on the job and slouching on the sofa each evening.
Research shows that three out of five people (57%) sit down for four or more hours of their working day and, when they finish working, the same number of people remain seated for another two to four hours.
This is a physical disaster waiting to happen: reduced calorie burning, and a slew of health issues known collectively as ‘hypokinetic’ diseases.
It has been shown that sitting for more than an hour triggers changes in the body’s biochemistry, and this alters fat and glucose metabolism and promotes weight gain. Based on data for just five diseases — cardiovascular disease, colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, endometrial cancer and lung cancer — scientists estimate that 11.6% of deaths could be stalled if we avoided sitting for such long periods.
Our lazy lifestyles are also the driving force in an epidemic of musculoskeletal pain; with four out of five (84%) adults reporting they have suffered from back pain at some time in their lives. And two out of five people (39%) experiencing problems at least once a week.
Over a third (35%) of adults experience more back pain than they did a year ago, four out of five (85%) say that poor posture has an impact on their health and two out of three adults (68%) have experienced pain as a result of their posture.
Back pain, followed by neck and shoulder pain, are the issues most commonly cited by those who believe poor posture contributes to health problems — 64% and 50% respectively.
There is an undeniable link between sedentary lifestyles, the resulting poor posture and back pain. With more people reporting problems, this is likely to continue to rise as a result of prolonged periods of sitting, combined with an ageing and increasingly obese population.”
Many health and physical practitioners will use elements of a simple five S.T.E.P.S approach (Stretch, Therapy, Exercise, Posture and Strengthening), which empowers back-pain sufferers to manage pain themselves without the need for painkillers, allowing them to lead a healthier, happier life. There are many ways the individual can also apply these elements into their lifestyle and exercise regimes but, most of all, during your working day, TAKE BREAKS!
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