Even if you religiously go out for a run every day or hit the gym on a regular basis, sitting for hours at a stretch the rest of the time may still very bad for your health. Research done at Northwestern University in Chicago suggests that being a dedicated exerciser doesn't prevent women from spending too much of their day sitting.
A release from the university quotes lead author Lynette L. Craft as saying, “We all know someone who gets a good workout in every day, but then spends a large portion of their day sitting in front of a computer with few breaks. If these people could replace some of the sitting with light activity---just getting up, moving around, maybe standing up when talking on the phone, walking down the hall instead of sending an email---we do think they could gain health benefits. I think some people assume, ‘If I’m getting my 30 to 40 minutes of physical activity a day, I’m doing what I need to do for my health. Of course, exercise is very important and is associated with many positive health benefits, but negative health consequences are associated with prolonged sitting, and this study shows that just because you’re physically active doesn’t mean you’re sitting less.”
The study was published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
