Sitting leads to overall slower blood flow and a weakened heart muscle, resulting in higher blood pressure and chronic inflammation in the blood vessels.

The combination of unhealthy accumulation of body fat and reduced muscle mass leads to higher unhealthy fats circulating in the blood, resulting in an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

Sitting for more than seven hours each day means an 85% increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

For every two hours a person spends sitting each day, the risk for cardiovascular disease increases by an additional 5%.

Movement triggers the release of neurochemicals, which are essential for awareness, proper memory function and mood stability.

The brain functions like a muscle. Without enough movement, the brain virtually shrinks in size, increasing the risk of developing depression, anxiety, dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease), attention deficit disorder and more.

An impaired response to stress also negatively impacts numerous other organs, including the heart and the gut with futher implications for our cognitive and psychological wellbeing.

Sitting too long influences the dopamine and leptin hormones, which play an important role in the regulation of hunger and satiety. Weight gain as a result of inactivity can start a vicious cycle, in which it becomes harder and harder for people to lose weight.

Being overweight increases the risk of a number of serious conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and heart attack, stroke, cancer, kidney disease and liver disease; it can also result in sleep disturbances and cause a range of musculoskeletal problems.

The body’s ability to effectively respond to sugar intake is profoundly affected by prolonged sitting, leading to insulin resistance and diabetes.

Long-term increased blood sugar levels give rise to cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney failure, nerve damage, blindness and limb amputations.

The gluteal muscles are an essential component for human locomotion and suffer enormous damage from sitting.

The chonic lack of extension in the hip muscles lead to tightness and a reduced range of motion, while weakened glute muscles decrease a person’s stability.

Both of these effects can lead to an increased risk for falls, particularly within the elderly population. Nerve compression can lead to chronic repetitive radiating pain throughout the legs.

The ease of our modern workday comes at the expense of our longevity.

Sitting for long stretches of time increases the odds of a premature death. 

Exercise time and sedentary time are two entirely different entities. They are not as interconnected as we used to believe.

Contrary to the common opinion that too much sitting can be compensated by a plus of training, this is not possible. Sitting damages the body regardless of athletic activity and physical activity cannot correct for sitting time.