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A new study reveals that individuals who predominantly sit during their work hours face a more than one-third increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to their peers who are less sedentary at work. However, the research also highlights that incorporating daily breaks from sitting and engaging in leisure-time activities can help mitigate the serious health risks associated with prolonged occupational sitting.
The study, led by Wayne Gao, PhD, from Taipei Medical University College of Public Health, Taiwan, sheds light on the impact of prolonged occupational sitting on cardiovascular health. While modern lifestyles often normalize extended periods of sitting at work, the study emphasizes the importance of physical activity and breaks to counteract the detrimental effects on health.
Michelle Bloom, MD, director of the cardio-oncology program at NYU Langone Health, stresses the significance of physical activity and encourages patients to incorporate movement into their daily routines. The study, published in JAMA Network Open on January 19, underscores the critical role of lifestyle changes and increased physical activity in mitigating health risks associated with prolonged sitting.
The World Health Organization updated its physical activity guidelines in 2020, recommending the reduction of sedentary behaviors due to their adverse health consequences. However, the specific association between prolonged occupational sitting and health outcomes, particularly in low physical activity settings, remains an area of ongoing research.
The study included 481,688 adults participating in a health surveillance program in Taiwan, with data collected on occupational sitting, leisure-time physical activity, lifestyle, and metabolic parameters. Over an average follow-up period of nearly 13 years, 26,257 participants died, and there were 5,371 CVD-related deaths. The findings revealed that adults who predominantly sat at work faced a 16% higher risk of all-cause mortality and a 34% increased risk of dying from CVD compared to their less sedentary peers.
Notably, adults who alternated between sitting and not sitting at work did not experience an increased risk of all-cause mortality compared to those who predominantly did not sit at work. Additionally, increasing daily leisure-time activity by 15 or 30 minutes for individuals who mostly sat at work resulted in a lowered risk for mortality to a level similar to inactive individuals who predominantly did not sit at work.
The authors recommend systemic changes, such as more frequent breaks, standing desks, designated workplace areas for physical activity, and gym membership benefits, to reduce the risk associated with prolonged sitting. The study reinforces the growing body of evidence linking a sedentary lifestyle to health risks and underscores the need for lifestyle modifications to promote cardiovascular health.
In commenting on the study, Anu Lala, MD, from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, emphasizes the simple yet profound message it conveys about the dangers of prolonged sitting. Lala highlights the remarkable findings, including a 16% higher all-cause mortality and a doubled risk for CVD mortality in those who predominantly sat at work, even after adjusting for major risk factors. The study serves as a reminder of the importance of movement and simple actions for heart health.
