<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=1602061480087256&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">

R&R Insurance Blog

Studies Found Sitting for Extended Periods is Hazardous to Your Health

Posted by the knowledge brokers

We ran across this helpful article by Eric Markowitz of Inc.com informing us of ways to keep active at work. Recent studies suggest sitting for long periods of time is worse than you might think. Here are tips to help sedentary employees stay healthy.

Studies found sitting for extended periods is hazardous to your health. According to NPR, "men who reported more than 23 hours a week of sedentary activity had a 64 percent greater risk of dying from heart disease than those who reported less than 11 hours a week of sedentary activity,".

Healthy employees make for more productive employees. One Australian study found that "the healthiest employees are nearly three times more productive while at work than the least healthy—140 effective working hours per month versus 45 effective hours worked per month."

Some even believe that sitting (or "excessive sitting") could be the basis for future Occupational and Safety and Health Administration complaints and even workplace litigation. According to Emmanuel Turner, a lecturer in computer graphic design, on his blog. "If this happens then work place computer usage will need to change to be less sedentary."

So what can you do to keep in shape and active while working in an office?

  • Take frequent micro - breaks - that is, getting up and moving every 15 minutes. That is more valuable than taking long breaks.
  • Make your meetings mobile. Why meet around a conference table when you can go for a walk? When it's nice out, grab your tablets and head outdoors.
  • Think treadmill or standing desk. It may sound silly (and look even sillier) but exercising at one's desk is an ideal way to keep active at the office.
  • Start a wellness program.

Topics: Personal Insurance