We've been hearing for a while now that prolonged sitting can lead to health problems. And here's another study purporting to confirm that theory. See “Our Chairs Are Killing Us,” Say Researchers. To wit:
In the current study researchers examined the association of sitting time and physical activity level with NAFLD in Korean men and women to explore whether any observed associations were related to the amount of body fat. They studied records of nearly 140,000 Koreans who underwent a health examination between March 2011 and December 2013. Physical activity level and sitting time were assessed using the Korean version of the international Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form. The presence of fatty liver was determined using ultrasonography.
Of the people studied, nearly 40,000 had NAFLD. Importantly, the researchers found that both prolonged sitting time and decreased physical activity level were independently associated with increasing prevalence of NAFLD. Remarkably, these associations were also observed in patients with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 23.
NAFLD stands for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Here's the scariest part:
This association was still observed among patients participating in high levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity, indicating that regular high levels of physical activity do not fully protect against the risks associated with prolonged periods of sedentary behaviors.
So a daily work-out doesn't seem to matter, at least with this health problem. That's a stunner.
In any event, many of us probably need to stand up more often. But with all these studies telling us not to sit too long, one has to wonder when the nanny state will start trying to regulate chair time.
Via boingboing.net.
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