‘New smoking’: Common habit is killing us

QUESTION: Hi Dr Zac, my firm has ramped up a wellbeing initiative, and the very first thing it did was give everybody standing desks. I really feel like an fool standing at my desk in the course of the workplace, however apparently it’s good for me. Meanwhile, Carole from HR retains harping on about “sitting is the new cancer”. I don’t perceive how standing might be higher than sitting, I’m nonetheless not transferring! Is it actually higher to face than sit whereas working? – Trevor, 32, Sydney

ANSWER: ‘Sitting is the new cancer’ might be what led to your organization introducing standing desks. I respect that your bullsh*t detector went off if you heard this, as it is best to solely get well being recommendation out of your physician, not your colleague who works in HR. I don’t assume it’s the brand new most cancers, however it’s positively as unhealthy as smoking.

Over the previous couple of many years there’s been a gentle rise in most cancers, coronary heart illness, diabetes and despair. You might say the ‘awesome foursome’ in the case of the burden of illness for a inhabitants. Many have tried to purpose why we have gotten extra unhealthy over time, and one idea is we’re main extra sedentary existence. And for many people that is most likely one in all our greatest threat elements for illness.

We roll off the bed, sit in our automotive, sit at our work desk, sit in our automotive on the best way house, sit on the sofa, go on a date and sit, pick-up a e book and sit down after which, lastly, lie down in mattress for sleep. There’s not a lot energetic motion taking place for a protracted time period.

If you assume again to our caveman occasions, we have been all the time on the go. Our physique was developed for that life-style, not the sofa potato life-style.

Sitting down gained’t kill you in itself. If you have been to have a vacation in Chernobyl, you most likely would get most cancers, however it will be attributable to the radiation, not all of the sitting down.

However, an absence of train will certainly make your life a lot tougher.

If you’re feeling like sitting down, that’s most definitely your physique telling you to park up. Don’t trigger pointless stress in your joints and backbone by refusing to relaxation your physique. Our our bodies are designed to select up patterns and turn into adaptable to new stressors. That’s why it is best to all the time select to make use of the steps as a substitute of the elevate – your physique will get used to it, and it’s glorious train.

Let’s unpack why folks imagine sitting down is the brand new smoking

The essential contributor to this idea is that individuals who sit an excessive amount of have an elevated threat of colon and breast most cancers. People who’re bodily energetic present a 40 per cent lower in most cancers mortality.

What is the dimensions measured to find out ‘sitting too much’

This would begin with the outliers, who really don’t transfer a muscle all day. Most individuals are bodily energetic to a level once they play with their children, stroll their canines and even clear their house.

Risks of sitting an excessive amount of

Sitting for prolonged durations of time means you don’t contract your massive skeletal muscle groups and this lowers the physique’s metabolism, thus burning fewer energy.

Levels of unhealthy forms of fats, akin to triglycerides, enhance whereas the high-density lipoproteins (good ldl cholesterol) lower. They can drop as a lot as 50 per cent in case you sit for a full day.

Your threat of coronary heart illness goes up too, as a result of enzymes that preserve blood fat in test are inactive. But once more, that’s a full day. Most folks in an workplace rise up at the very least each two hours or so, so that they wouldn’t fall into this class.

Bad posture

There’s one other facet impact to extended sitting although: poor posture. Sitting for lengthy hours can result in slouching or adopting improper postures. This causes critical pressure in your muscle groups, again, backbone and shoulders. Over time it will trigger havoc in your musculoskeletal system.

Something I all the time attempt to do is take telephone calls standing up. I additionally attempt to plan a few calls every hour and do them strolling round. Not solely does it get extra blood circulation going and assist with vitality, it additionally will get the joy and artistic juices flowing.

Standing desks

Not that it’s my business, however I’d suggest that reasonably than giving standing desks to everybody, your organization ought to supply train lessons, necessary strolling conferences, and even discounted gymnasium memberships.

What a terrific incentive that might be for bosses to entice everybody again in to the workplace!

Got a query? Email askdrzac@conciergedoctors.com.au

Dr Zac Turner has a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney. He is each a medical practitioner and a co-owner of telehealth service, Concierge Doctors. He was additionally a registered nurse and is a professional and skilled biomedical scientist together with being a PhD Candidate in Biomedical Engineering.

Originally revealed as Dr Zac Turner on frequent behavior that’s ‘as bad as smoking’