Sedentary Lifestyle Health Risks and Concerns

What does sedentary lifestyle mean?

The term sedentary lifestyle isn’t something that you come across very often. A sedentary lifestyle definition is when an individual does not have enough physical activity in their daily life. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an individual should exercise moderately for a minimum of 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) to 300 minutes (5 hours) or 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes) to 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of a vigorous regimen throughout the week.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 80% of the world’s adolescent population is insufficiently physically active – one of the leading causes of death.

what is a sedentary lifestyle

This image gives you an idea of the different levels of activity you can start doing to help get you started.

Why Sitting Is Bad For You

Usually we would think that having a healthy diet and getting a little exercise, such as 30 minutes a day, can offset the effects of the time spent being sedentary, however, that’s in fact not the case. Our body is meant to move, and the best way to start having a more active lifestyle is, to begin with, 10,000 steps a day. Although we suggest 10,000 steps a day, isn’t the solution, it’s only a guideline to just get you moving.

Health Effects from What a Sedentary Lifestyle is

There have been studies show what your body goes through with inactivity. Your body is meant to move, and if you’ve watched the video, you’ll see why.

In addition, John Hopkins Medicine lists some of the health risks linked to physical inactivity:

  • An increase in developing high blood pressure.
  • Lack of physical activity can add to feelings of anxiety and depression.
  • Physical inactivity may increase the risk of certain cancers.
  • Sitting too much may decrease in skeletal muscle mass.
  • Physical inactivity is linked to high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels.

Sedentary Lifestyle Jobs

There has been an increase in sedentary lifestyle because of technology. Technology has given us the ability to do a lot of the work while sitting down. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), sedentary jobs have increased 83% since 1950; physically active jobs now make up less than 20% of our workforce. In addition, our average workweek is longer, 350 extra hours working each year (an average of 47 hours of full-time work per week).

sedentary lifestyle risks

Although we’re sitting at our desk more so now than ever, you can still change the way you work. You can simply add a standing desk converter onto your regular desk, or if you want, swap out the regular table altogether and use an electric stand up table.

dangers of sedentary lifestyle

In addition to this, you can look into getting a treadmill desk or a bike desk to help with your sedentary lifestyle and get you moving again. This will significantly reduce the effects caused by inactivity.

Within two weeks, we’ve noticed a big difference in people’s lifestyles.

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Desk Advisor

Desk Advisor

Our team covers many categories to help you hustle better, from ergonomics to productivity, and technology. We are willing to ask questions (lots of them), seek experts, and dig deep into conventional wisdom to see if maybe there might be a better path towards the healthy workspace. We apply what we learn not only to our company culture but also how we deliver information to our readers. Ergonomic and productivity research is changing all the time, and we are 100% dedicated to keeping up with breakthroughs and innovations. You live better if you work better. Whatever has brought you here, we wish you luck on your journey towards better hustle.

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