Many of us are just sitting more and more often and for lengthier periods of time. We sit in the car or on the train or bus on our way to work. We then sit in front of our computer screens or during meetings at work. Then, we go home and settle down on the sofa for another several hours using our tablets, laptops or watching television. This sedentary lifestyle – which is all too easy to adopt -is leading us to health problems of all types and ultimately not a very happy life.
Several studies have been carried out on this subject and researchers have discovered that, the more time a person spends sitting, the higher the risk of dying from all causes, but especially cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, although inactivity is a major cause of obesity, researchers from the University of Cambridge now claim that lack of exercise is actually responsible for twice as many deaths as obesity itself.
It is way past time for some of us to pay attention to what we are doing to ourselves and put into practice those all important lifestyle changes. Making sure we are eating a healthy diet and, moreover, taking a decision to include physical activity in our lives is where we must start. According to researchers, a brisk 20 minute walk each day could be enough to reduce an individual’s risk of early death. And, if we can progress to further exercise, e.g. swimming, cycling, aerobics, Pilates, all the better!
