Could how long you sit actually impact your health?
WHAT are you doing at the moment—sipping coffee, taking a break from work, winding down for bed?
Most likely, you’re sitting. It’s natural—your feet are tired.
People always say you shouldn’t sit for too long or your back starts to hurt, and it’s just not good for your joints.
But now, some studies say sitting too much could raise your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer—comparable to the serious effects of smoking.
Is it really that bad, or just a way for health experts to push us to move around a little more?
Verdict:
TRUE
When you sit for an extended period of time, your blood flow slows, which may lead to the accumulation of fatty acids in your arteries, which is a significant cause of cardiovascular disease.
A 2018 study discovered that 82% of the individuals who developed blood clots had much longer sitting times than the 18% who did not.
Sitting also affects the body's capacity to break down fat. When you are idle, the production of lipoprotein lipase, the enzyme responsible for fat breakdown, decreases by approximately 90%, leading fat to be retained rather than consumed.
This can result in insulin resistance, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
Moving your body every day does more than just help you stay in shape. It lowers blood pressure, improves cholesterol, builds stronger bones and muscles, and reduces inflammation.
It also boosts your brainpower and helps relieve stress, anxiety, and depression
Even standing desks aren’t the perfect fix. Fitness experts point out that being still — whether standing or sitting — for more than 60 to 90 minutes can still have harmful effects.
The key is to move regularly throughout the day. Just getting your heart rate up for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, for a total of 30 minutes daily, can make a real difference.
Another study of 800,000 people found that those who sat the most had a 112% higher risk of diabetes, a 147% higher risk of heart problems, and were 49% more likely to die early.
Sitting for just three to four hours non-stop can cause blood clots, and it’s also linked to dementia and anxiety.
So remember — sitting may seem harmless now, but a few minutes of movement here and there can do your body good long-term.
References:
1. https://www.yalemedicine.org/
2. https://nypost.com/2025/02/11/
3. https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/
4. https://theheartfoundation.
5. https://www.mayoclinic.org/
6. https://news.sanfordhealth.
