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Sitting on Balcony

Introduction of Sedentary Behavior 

Brief general statistics on the current state of sedentary behavior in the U.S. Why do we participate in sedentary behavior? Learn more about the detrimental effects of sedentary behavior. Read about how sedentary behavior is considered the “new smoking.”

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By: Maliq Alford

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More than 60% of U.S. adults do not engage in the recommended physical activity. It is recommended to clock in around 150 minutes of moderate/intense physical activity, with two days of muscle-strengthening activity/ resistance training. More than half of American adults aren’t hitting these benchmarks. It is said that approximately 25% of U.S. adults are not active at all. (CDC, 2022). One of the main things to blame would be the rise in sedentary jobs. We have seen an immense rise in jobs requiring employees to be seated for most of their days. According to the American Heart Association, sedentary jobs have increased by 83% since 1950. “Physically active jobs now make up less than 20% of the U.S. workforce, down from roughly half of jobs in 1960.” (Roberts, 2019). We live in a society where the typical person spends more than half their day sitting and is inactive through the remaining part of their days. 

Physical inactivity is more common among: 

  • Women rather than men

  • African American adults rather than whites

  • Older than younger adults

  • Social support from family and friends has been consistently and positively related to regular physical activity

Fitness

Some quick sedentary statistics to get you out of your chair:

  • ¼ of Americans spend about 8 hours a day sitting

  • A sedentary lifestyle increases the death rate by 71%.

  • Unfortunately, the U.S. ranks 143rd out of 168 countries in physical activity.

  • Cardiovascular disease risk increases by 147% for people with high levels of sedentary behavior.

  • People who sit for more than 7 hours per day are much more likely to develop depression, dementia, and Alzheimer's.

  • Moving just 2 minutes every hour can decrease premature death risks by 33%.

We participate in sedentary behaviors due to a few factors, including environmental factors such as traffic congestion, air pollution, shortage of parks or pedestrian walkways, and a lack of sports or leisure facilities. A sedentary lifestyle has various adverse health effects, including obesity, heart diseases, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, musculoskeletal diseases, osteoporosis, and more. Sedentary behavior is said to be so detrimental to an individual’s health that it is considered as harmful as smoking. Researchers have analyzed thirteen studies of time being inactive and activity levels. They found that those who sat for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying, similar to obesity and smoking. This should be just the tip of the iceberg to get sedentary individuals up and moving. Simply getting up and walking for about two minutes every hour has decreased premature death risks by 33%! Therefore, it doesn’t take a lot to add a little more physical activity to someone’s daily life; however, the benefits are incredible. 

References

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Physical activity and health: A report of the surgeon general. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/adults.htm 

  2. Edward R. Laskowski, M. D. (2022, July 13). Sitting risks: How harmful is too much sitting? Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/sitting/faq-20058005 

  3. Muller, J., & Jon MullerI'm a mechanical engineer and founder of ErgonomicTrends.com. Good Form. Good Function. Good Health. (2021, June 7). 12 sedentary lifestyle statistics in 2021 that Will get you off your chair. Ergonomic Trends. Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://ergonomictrends.com/sedentary-lifestyle-sitting-statistics/ 

  4. Roberts, N. F. (2019, March 7). Americans sit more than anytime in history and it's literally killing us. Forbes. Retrieved December 9, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolefisher/2019/03/06/americans-sit-more-than-anytime-in-history-and-its-literally-killing-us/?sh=10c58291779d

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