Previous studies have suggested that prolonged sitting is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in high-income countries. However, it is not yet clear whether the risks also increase in low- and middle-income countries.
People who sit for six to eight hours a day have a 12 to 13 percent higher risk of premature death and heart disease, according to a global survey of more than 100,000 people in 21 countries. those who sat for more than eight hours a day. had a 20% higher risk.
Scientists tracked individuals for an average of 11 years and determined that large amounts of sitting time were associated with an increased risk of premature death and cardiovascular disease. While sitting was problematic in all countries, it was especially so in low- and middle-income countries.
Those who sat more and were less active had the highest risk, up to 50%, while those who sat more but were also the most active had a significantly reduced risk of around 17%.
Simon Fraser University professor of health sciences Scott Lear said: “The general message here is to minimize how much you sit. If you have to sit down, exercising more during other times of the day will make up for that risk.”
“For those who sit for more than four hours a day, replacing a half-hour sitting per exercise reduced the risk by two per cent. With only one in four Canadians meeting the activity guidelines, there is a chance for people to increase their activity and reduce their chances of premature death and heart disease. “
The study found a different link to lower-income countries, which led scientists to suggest that settling in higher-income countries is often linked to higher socioeconomic status and higher-paying jobs.
Lear noted, “Doctors should focus on less sitting and more activity, as it’s a low-cost intervention that can have a huge benefit.”
“But while doctors need to get the message across about how to counteract sitting activity, individuals need to better assess their lifestyles and take their health seriously. Our study found that a combination of sitting and inactivity accounted for 8.8% of all deaths, which is close to the contribution of smoking (10.6% in the study by Lear and Li).
“It’s a global problem that has a simple solution. Scheduling time to get up from this chair is a good start. “
Magazine reference:
- Sidong Li, et al. Association of sitting time with mortality and cardiovascular events in high-, middle-, and low-income countries. DOI: 10.1001 / jamacardio.2022.1581