Home
/
Blog Articles
/
How can leading a sedentary life decrease life expectancy?

How can leading a sedentary life decrease life expectancy?

Stefano Mirabello NowPatientGreen tick
Medically reviewed by Stefano Mirabello, BPharm and written by Rajive Patel, BPharm - Updated on 28 Aug 2023
Share this post
Table of contents
OverviewHow often should we get up from our desks?What little movements can we incorporate into everyday life to improve our health?What happens to our body when we overeat?How is social isolation dangerous for our health?Sources

Leading a sedentary lifestyle is becoming a significant public health issue. Sedentary behaviour appears to be increasing in many nations, despite being linked to a range of chronic health conditions. According to the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, adults should be getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. Research however suggests that only 21 per cent of people achieve this.

Physical inactivity or sitting for long periods of time has been associated with health risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, obesity (body mass index (BMI) > 40 ) type 2 diabetes, anxiety and depression, some forms of cancer and early death.

Chronic diseases and health conditions caused by these risk factors are now the leading causes of death in almost every part of the world.

The NHS states that prolonged sitting is thought to slow your metabolism, which affects the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and break down fat. This in turn can lead to a decreased life expectancy.

How often should we get up from our desks?

Most people with sedentary behaviour or desk-based jobs with excessive sitting spend around 7-8 hours (or more) sitting, which isn’t good for their health. It is important to have regular breaks to stretch out your body, fingers and hands (if using a keyboard frequently) and to give your eyes a rest from the glare of a computer screen. 1-2 minute stand-up breaks from sitting each hour is enough to lower risk factors, such as cancer.

What little movements can we incorporate into everyday life to improve our health?

If you have a sedentary lifestyle or a desk-bound job, then make sure you take regular breaks. It is important to try and get 10,000 steps in a day and, even better try and do some regular exercise before or after work to help release endorphins, which in turn increase your energy. You may not feel like doing physical activity, but even a 15-minute brisk walk can boost your energy levels and give you that pick-up you so need. Yoga, spinning, a run, or a HIIT class will all get your heart rate up and your blood flowing and boost your mood and your energy levels, even if it is for just a short period.

Not only do you have to be active during the day, but the amount of time spent exercising should also be a period of constant exercise. Just 30 minutes of exercise a day, even small movements can have huge health benefits and help to offset problems like osteoporosis, retain your muscle mass, avoid back pain and lower your risk of heart problems.

Researchers have recently found that a lack of physical activity for a longer period of time can increase your risk of developing chronic health issues that can lead to mortality. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), everyone should indulge in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of higher physical activity levels each week.

Subtle movement breaks up prolonged sitting and has been shown to promote higher HDL (“good cholesterol“) and lowers the prevalence of LDL (“bad cholesterol”) which in turn can improve your blood pressure and lower your risk of heart attack.

Automation has made more time available for leisure pursuits. Unfortunately, most of the newfound leisure time is used for sedentary pursuits, whereas the human body is designed for strenuous physical activity.

What happens to our body when we overeat?

Overeating usually leads to weight gain, which in turn can put such an intolerable strain on the body, including the heart and internal organs. This can lead to health issues like heart disease, strokes, diabetes and cancer.

How is social isolation dangerous for our health?

Humans are wired to interact with other humans. If we’re not talking to others or getting regular physical activity then both our physical and mental health can be dramatically affected. This has never been more evident than the recent Covid pandemic. The impact of lockdowns on the mental health of individuals has been devastating for some (especially loneliness in older people), and even those more resilient would admit that it has been a difficult time.

Social isolation can also increase the chances of serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease, a higher risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease/dementia.

Sources

Loneliness in older people – NHS 

Medical Disclaimer

NowPatient has taken all reasonable steps to ensure that all material is factually accurate, complete, and current. However, the knowledge and experience of a qualified healthcare professional should always be sought after instead of using the information in this page. Before taking any drug, you should always speak to your doctor or another qualified healthcare provider.

The information provided here about medications is subject to change and is not meant to include all uses, precautions, warnings, directions, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or negative effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a particular medication does not imply that the medication or medication combination is appropriate for all patients or for all possible purposes.

What is NowPatient

Telehealth and Online Pharmacy

NowPatient is a licensed online pharmacy and doctor service that is available around the world. Our service is FREE and packed with valuable features that can benefit your health such as medication reminders, educational blogs, medically approved symptoms checker, UK NHS online pharmacyprivate treatment plansRx Advantage cardhealth conditions information, affordable medications options, genetic testinghome test kitshealth riskspollen meterair quality monitor, weight loss plans, drug savings checker and lots more!

See how we are different
Laptop showing nowpatients app dashboard

WHY WE BUILT NOWPATIENT

To improve the lives of everyone by making high-quality care accessible and convenient

We are here to improve lives. Our service gives you access to smart features and resources that can help empower you to take control of your health and improve your health outcomes. All this, in one place, for FREE. We strive to bring a fresh perspective to managing health. NowPatient can be accessed by downloading the App or using your web browser.

Download our app today

A man and woman in a video call on an iphone.

Can I trust NowPatient

Meet our medical review team

Trustworthy and reliable medical content authored and reviewed by our experienced team of medical professionals from the United Kingdom and the United States. Learn more about our team and our editorial process by clicking on the buttons below.

 

Medical Review Team Avatars

Your Questions Answered

For your peace of mind, we can answer your questions quickly

We have a comprehensive list of FAQ’s on each feature page. Alternatively, for broader questions around our service just click the button below.
Find your answers