A new study shows that people who spend more time sitting during their leisure time have an increased risk of death -- regardless of daily exercise.
Researchers tracked the activity levels and death rates in more than 123,000 healthy people for 13 years. They found women who spend over six hours a day sitting during leisure time were 40 percent more likely to die more quickly. Men who spend more time sitting have a 20 percent increased risk of death.
According to Paging Dr. Gupta:
“Prolonged time sitting suppresses your immune system, which may increase the risk of cancer and other diseases. And your blood isn’t circulating as it should when you’re sedentary for long periods of time ... It also has metabolic consequences – increasing your resting blood pressure and cholesterol levels.”