Many activities in the modern world involve sitting: working at an office, watching TV and driving are just a few.
It turns out that sedentary behavior like this, according to a study published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, increases the risk of developing diseases or conditions that result in premature deaths, regardless of physical activity.
Researchers from Toronto analyzed 47 studies of sedentary behavior and adjusted data to account for the average amount of time people spend sitting each day. The studies indicated that such behavior can lead to cancer and other chronic conditions. Sitting for eight to 12 hours or more each day raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 90 percent, CNN reported.
The World Health Organization states that physical inactivity is responsible for an estimated 3.2 million deaths worldwide and is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality.
Although the amount of time spent sitting these days outweighs the benefits of exercise, engaging in physical activity does reduce the adverse effects of sedentary activities.
Some simple suggestions to decrease sitting time were offered by the authors of the study.
For one, simply being aware of how much time one spends sitting is a starting point for setting a goal to reduce that number little by little each week.
Those at work could try a standing desk or set a goal to stand up or walk around for one to three minutes every half hour.
Those who watch recorded television are encouraged to not fast forward through commercial breaks, and instead use that time to stand or walk around.
(With reports from CNN)