![]() So What Can You Do to Reverse the Negative Effects? For more detail on integrated health programs see our “ Total Worker Health” white paper. Additionally, organizations are promoting a culture of health awareness, incentives for health improvements, and providing resources to employees to address individual issues. Some companies pay for gym membership while others provide a fitness center on-site. And companies are combating the harmful effects of prolonged sitting and other health issues by offering: stretching programs, training on body mechanics and self-care, on-site pain management and mitigation programs, posture analysis, and education, and ergonomic training. Many organizations integrate protection from work-related safety and health hazards with the promotion of injury and illness prevention efforts to advance worker well-being. Some great news is that companies realize that by providing programs that promote Total Workers Health they can improve employee wellness and morale, reduce medical plan costs, increase productivity, and reduce the frequency and severity of workers’ compensation claims. ![]() What Can Companies Do To Reverse This Trend? That’s one big reason so many still struggle with weight, blood sugar, and cholesterol woes despite keeping consistent workout routines. Exercise alone is not a perfect antidote for sitting. A growing body of research suggests that this advice makes no more sense than the idea that you could counter a smoking habit by running. The conventional wisdom has been if you watch your diet and get aerobic exercise at least a few times a week, you can offset your sitting time. Read more about the Impact of Chronic Pain in the Workplace. Prolonged sitting no doubt has contributed to an increase in the incidence of chronic lower-back pain. The muscles that support your back and neck can become weak and stiff. When you sit too much, your hip flexors and hamstrings tighten and shorten. With less blood flow, fewer endorphin hormones circulate to your brain. Prolonged sitting can affect your mental health, increase fatigue, increase stress levels and lower productivity. One study showed a 40% decrease in cancer mortality in those who were physically active compared to those who were active. People who sit too much and have a sedentary lifestyle have an increased risk of colon and breast cancer. For every two hours spent sitting per day, your chance of contracting diabetes goes up by 7-14 percent. The less active you are, the less blood sugar your body utilizes. Levels of unhealthy types of fat, such as triglycerides, increase while the high-density lipoproteins (good cholesterol) decrease. They can drop as much as 50% if you sit for a full day. Your risk for heart disease goes up too, because enzymes that keep blood fats in check are inactive. Sitting for extended periods of time means you don’t contract your large skeletal muscles and this lowers the body’s metabolism, thus burning fewer calories. Prolonged Sitting Lowers Your Circulation and Metabolism Physiologically What are the Risks of Sitting too Much? Throughout our day we may partake in many activities, but often the common denominator is that they seem to require a sitting position. Census Bureau, Americans now spend more than 100 hours a year commuting to work. ![]() These days you can shop, and even catch up with friends on social media without so much as standing up.Ĭommute times on average have increased too. To exasperate the problem, the typical American home has multiple remotes for everything from the TV to the garage door. adults spend an average of four hours a day watching TV and playing computer games. Prolonged sitting at home has increased as well. And workplace sitting has risen in recent decades, mainly due to the widespread availability of computers and labor-saving devices. Americans spend nearly eight hours a day at work sitting according to a Harris poll conducted by the America On the Move Foundation. It is the confluence of our work life, home life and for some the travel times in between the two. Just consider how many hours we spend sitting. Why is This Becoming an Issue? What Has Changed? “Sitting is the New Cancer” is truly a reality, not just a provocative headline. A recent review of 47 studies backed up that conclusion. An increased risk of breast and colon cancers, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease are all found associated with prolonged sitting. Is “Sitting the New Cancer”? Is prolonged sitting a real threat or just media hype? Sitting, a sedentary behavior, may seem harmless, but you may be surprised by the negative impact it has on your health.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |