Years ago, as I was fighting chronic back pain and after seeing various medical professionals I was eventually diagnosed with moderate scoliosis. I was worried that this was a life sentence of ongoing pain, one that I did not want to accept, so I started down a path of rigorous physiotherapy and chiropractic adjustments. 

It is quite likely that I had this since I was a child but after 20 years of sitting at a desk with my legs crossed (not the best position), spending countless hours around the boardroom table, attending regular business lunches, and working at the kitchen table afterhours, my back was screaming ENOUGH!

During treatment, I repeatedly heard the phrase sitting is the new smoking.  “Interesting,” I thought, “how can you even begin to compare the two?”

I began researching to learn more and was interested to find that the comparison to smoking is really about what is going on inside your body when you sit for extended periods of time, something that so many of us are not aware of. And the articles were everywhere – from WebMD to the Heart Foundation, the Mayo Clinic, Healthline…everywhere, and this health finding is not new.

This is what you need to know about the impact sitting for long periods of time, day-in and day-out, has on your health.

  • blood flow slows which allows fatty acids to build up in your blood vessels
  • you increase the potential for insulin resistance which causes both obesity and type 2 diabetes
  • your body starts to process fat slower and if it can’t break it down then it will store it
  • you may create a lazy bowel or kinks in it thereby encouraging constipation or other serious GI issues
  • it can negatively impact your mental health and create anxiety from the lack of exercise

This is only the start of the list of health issues that have labeled sitting as the new smoking and it does not even touch on the impact it has on your heart, spine, legs and other body parts. Sure, we are all guilty of losing track of time in front of the computer, binge watching a favorite series on a rainy weekend, or spending long hours sitting as we travel by car or airplane. But it is time to take notice that too much sitting is creating health issues.

So going forward, be aware of the length of time that you are sitting.  Get up and away from your desk or off the couch hourly, even if for a few minutes.  Stretch your arms and legs and check your posture. If you are guilty of losing track of time, set a timer on your phone to prompt you to get moving.  If you have a busy day of meetings, get out for a walk, jog or bike ride when you get home from work. Consider joining a gym to force you out of the house and to get moving.  Get a group of friends together and do a step challenge through one of the many apps available. Stop fast-forwarding through the commercials and let them be your prompt to get moving for a couple of minutes.

It is easy to get moving if you make a conscious effort to do so, and if you are focused on staying healthy. There have never been so many ways to get active, even amidst a pandemic. So do your health a favor, and get up and get moving.