Beware this common lifestyle habit thats as risky to your health as smoking: It is that bad
Sitting might be slowly killing you, but your standing desk likely isn’t the solution. That’s according to Stephen Williams, a cardiologist at NYU Langone, who told The Post that being sedentary is just as harmful to your health as smoking.“When people come to the office and say that they have an active life because they are on their feet all day, I am not impressed,” Williams told The Post.“You may not be moving at a pace that fits the definition of “physical activity.”Instead, Williams said movement is key.
Physical activity offers a host of benefits, including weight management, lower blood pressure, improved cholesterol, stronger bones and muscles, and reduced inflammation.It also boosts brain function and can help alleviate stress, anxiety and depression. But the sad reality is that most Americans aren’t moving enough.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that less than a third of adults get the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity each week.And worse, one in four adults sit for more than eight hours a day.Prolonged sitting has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, weight gain, depression and even some cancers.
In fact, a study of 8,000 adults found a direct link between extended sitting and an increased risk of early death.“A sedentary lifestyle is now seen as the ‘new smoking lifestyle,'” Williams said.“It is that bad.”But experts say the standing desk, marketed as the solution to sedentary living, isn’t the magic fix — even if it helps you burn more calories.“The negative health consequences of being sedentary for more than 60-90 minutes apply to any position … including standing,” Ben Greenfield, a biohacker and fitness guru, said in an interview with the Optimize Yourself podcast. So, instead of just focusing on standing, Williams says it’s crucial to get your body moving.
“If you have seen your physician and you are cleared to be active, it is essential to have daily physical act...