Many jobs require a lot of sitting. People are at desks looking at computer screens. And most people probably don’t give a lot of thought to the health implications of all those hours in a chair, even if they regularly go the gym.
But recent research has shown that sitting for long periods of time can have a big negative impact on your health. It can lead to obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol levels. Sitting for long periods can also increase the chances of dying from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
One experiment compared the health of people who sat before a television for less than two hours a day to those who sat in front of a television more than four hours a day. The people who sat for the longer time period had a 50 percent greater chance of dying than those with the shorter hours. Those with more television watching time also had a 125 percent increase risk of a heart attack or stroke. The study took into account other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking or high blood pressure, so the measured increase in risk was due to the television watching alone.
Any extended time sitting, no matter where, can be as detrimental to your health as the television watching. Moreover, research has shown that regular physical activity does nothing to lessen the risk of too much sitting.
So, it is imperative that people who have sedentary jobs spend less time in a chair and more time moving around. Some ideas to do this:
1. Try to spend more time standing, while talking on the phone or eating lunch, for example.
2. If possible, use a standing desk occasionally.
3. Go for a walk during your lunch break if possible.
4. Take regular work breaks and get away from your desk during those breaks to walk around the office.
5. Take the stairs to your office rather than the elevator.
6. If possible, have walking meetings.
In addition to burning more calories, standing or walking prompts your body to break down fats and sugars. This breakdown process, however, stalls when you sit, increasing health risks.
If you want to get moving in your job search, Opti Staffing can help you. We will work closely with you to learn about your skills, knowledge, and experience to find the right job for you. Give Opti a call today.