More reasons to GET MOVING!

The more you sit, the greater your risk for an early death.

You kind of knew that, right? But, just in case, these findings,  from a study just published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, should be enough to get you off the couch!

The study tracked more than 123,000 adults (ages 50 to 74) over 14 years. The researchers surveyed the subjects about their leisure activity (or lack of it).

They found that, after adjusting for smoking, body mass index and other factors, sitting 6 hours a day versus 3 hours a day increased the death rate in both men and  women–but moreso in women.

What I find most intriguing is the study’s finding that sitting by itself puts you at greater risk for premature death. That is, regardless of how active you are, the mere act of sitting is independently associated with disease and death.

How’s that possible? Inactive muscles may stimulate or suppress hormones that affect triglycerides, cholesterol and other markers for disease, says the study’s lead author, Alpa Patel, PhD, in this MedlinePlus article.

Bottom line: Make time to move around. Take a walk. Go to the gym. Dance in your living room.

Don’t stress. (That’s no good either!) Just get on your feet a bit more!