Recent research has contributed to the ongoing debate on the health implications of prolonged sitting. The study found that time spent sitting increases mortality, while physical activity decreases mortality. The results quantified the additional exercise needed to counteract the negative effects of sitting. It’s common sense to compensate for a sedentary job with extra exercise. The study aimed to quantify the health risks associated with prolonged sitting and determine the level of physical activity needed to mitigate these risks.
The study included participants in a health surveillance program in Taiwan and followed them between 1996 and 2017. It analyzed all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality associated with different levels of occupational sitting, and the impact of leisure-time physical activity on mortality. The results showed that individuals who mostly sat at work had a higher risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality compared to those who were mostly nonsitting. It was also found that increasing leisure-time physical activity could reduce mortality to a level similar to that of individuals who were mostly nonsitting at work. Additionally, individuals with a high personal activity intelligence (PAI) score experienced a notable reduction in the elevated mortality risk associated with prolonged sitting.
