Tuesday 25 February 2014

Are You Sitting Down?

 

A new study just released by The Journal of Physical Activity and Health, reveals some alarming new revelations about the negative effects of sitting on our health as we get older. 


The study observed 2286 adults over the age of 60 and the effects sedentary time had on their bodies.

Specifically, the study explored what relationship exists between sitting and the development disabilities in activities of daily living (ADL).

While it’s no surprise that lack of exercise resulting in a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to a host of ailments, especially as our bodies age, the degree to which ‘taking a load off’ can debilitate us, raises some serious red flags for inactive seniors.

Seniors participating in the study were given accelerometers, attached to belts worn around the waist. Participants were instructed to wear the devices for seven consecutive days, during waking hours.

Over a seven day period, the average monitoring time during waking hours was 14 hours a day. 63.4% of participants reported being sedentary for at least 9 hours a day.

While most sedentary time was common among all seniors studied (reading, watching television, etc.) of particular note were sedentary social activities prevalent among women, a sub group the study suggests warrants particular attention.

The study suggested that offering physical activity classes immediately following or preceding social programs like book clubs, bingo, etc., may help to stimulate more activity.

In the end, the study found that a senior’s risk of an ADL disability increases by a whopping 46% for every hour spent sitting each day.

Clearly, seniors should be taking these latest findings seriously. With consequences ranging from metabolic syndrome to depression, cancer and even mortality, as one newspaper declared, sitting may just be the new smoking.


http://journals.humankinetics.com/jpah-pdf-articles?DocumentScreen=Detail&ccs=6412&cl=30175