Break up long stretches of sitting
Look at your total activity as well as how long you sit. The research did not test a particular schedule of standing breaks.
Get up and move periodically rather than staying seated for a long stretch.
US cohort: highest versus lowest sedentary time was associated with 2.63 times the mortality hazard.
Why consider it?
The observational cohort of middle-aged and older US adults used accelerometers to measure sitting. The hazard ratio is relative, not an absolute risk or proof that sitting alone caused the difference. Poor health can lead to more sitting. A separate cohort meta-analysis found activity modified the association; neither study proves the effect of the book's suggested periodic breaks.
Read the sources
Source grade A is reproduced from the original work. It does not establish suitability for everyone.
- Diaz KM et al. (2017). Patterns of Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A National Cohort Study. Annals of Internal Medicine.
- Ekelund U et al. (2016). Does physical activity attenuate, or even eliminate, the detrimental association of sitting time with mortality? A harmonised meta-analysis of data from more than 1 million men and women. Lancet.
Adaptation: Rewritten in English from the locked Chinese original; retained evidence grade and study limits. Effect sizes quoted from the cited source: estimates are kept in their original comparison and population; observational associations are not described as proven personal gains. Topic corrected to health because the action concerns reducing sedentary exposure; eligibility and risk classification unchanged.
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