Hyderabad: Sitting for prolonged periods, often required by many jobs, can seriously jeopardize your health and even shorten your lifespan to a degree comparable to the risks posed by obesity and smoking, a prominent Hyderabad-based doctor said on Thursday, May 23.
Dr Sudhir Kumar, who is popular for issuing health advisories on platform X, said that 60-75 minutes of moderately intense physical activity daily (such as brisk walking, running or cycling) can counter the ill-effects of prolonged sitting.
“If you sit for more than 13 hours daily, doing exercise also can not counter the ill-effects posed by prolonged sitting. Health hazards associated with prolonged sitting are: Increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, abdominal adiposity (obesity), elevated LDL cholesterol & triglycerides, heart attack, stroke, cancer and premature death.
Strategies to minimize sitting duration:
- Take 5-minute standing or walking breaks after every 30-45 minutes of sitting,
- Prefer standing work desks,
- Have meetings & coffee breaks in a standing position,
- Reduce leisure-time sitting (such as while watching TV, mobile phones, and other electronic gadgets),” he said.
The post hit the cord with many users on X, who commented about how their health has been affected due to prolonged hours of sitting in front of the laptop.
