Sitting Won't Cut Lifespan, Study

A new study contradicts existing notion that sitting for long hours could increase risk of death. Instead the new study claims lack of activity and not sitting itself, increases the risk.

UPI reports researchers analyzing data from over 5,000 men and women who were followed for 16 years as part of a larger study. The study's participants had revealed the time they spent sitting at work, watching television or during leisure. No link was found between increased risk of death and time spent sitting.

"Our study overturns current thinking on the health risks of sitting and indicates that the problem lies in the absence of movement rather than the time spent sitting itself. Any stationary posture where energy expenditure is low may be detrimental to health, be it sitting or standing. The results cast doubt on the benefits of sit-stand work stations, which employers are increasingly providing to promote healthy working environments," Melvyn Hillsdon at University of Exeter said.

Research in the past has concluded that sitting increases risk of death. The new study finds that inactivity either during sitting or standing increases the risk.

"Our findings suggest that reducing sitting time might not be quite as important for mortality risk as previously publicized and that encouraging people to be more active should still be a public health priority," lead author Richard Pulsford said.

The study has been published in International Journal of Epidemiology