Prolonged sitting ‘can greatly increase risk of death’

People whose lifestyles involve prolonged periods of sitting may be greatly increasing their risk of dying earlier, according to a new study.

Analysis conducted by the Sax Institute has found that adults who sit down for more than 11 hours a day have a 40 percent higher risk of dying within three years than those who sit for fewer than four hours daily.

This conclusion takes into account the physical activity, weight and health status of patients, with prolonged sitting having been shown to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

It adds to the growing body of evidence highlighting the danger of excessive sitting, coming at a time when the average adult is thought to spend 90 per cent of their leisure time sitting down.

Dr Hidde van der Ploeg, a senior research fellow at the University of Sydney's School of Public Health, said: "Our results suggest the time people spend sitting at home, work and in traffic should be reduced by standing or walking more."

This comes after a report published in the journal Diabetes Care earlier this week showed that too much sitting can lead to a build-up of blood sugar and insulin, causing an elevated risk of heart disease and diabetes.