Sitting down at work 'increases risks of cancer'

Office workers who spend a lot of time sat down have increased risks of cancer, according to a new scientific study.


People who sit down for long amounts of time are more likely to get chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Assistant professor of human nutrition Richard Rosenkranz, of Kansas State University, carried out the research. The study involved around 60,000 men aged between 45 and 65 who were asked how long they spent sat down each day. Each man was put into a group to indicate their daily sitting time - less than four hours, four to six hours, six to eight hours, or more than eight hours. The results found those sitting for at least six hours per day were significantly more likely to report having diabetes.Prof Rosenkranz, of Kansas State University in Kansas, US, said: "We saw a steady increase in risk of chronic diseases with the men who sat more.
"The group of people who said they sit more than eight hours clearly had the highest risk. "We know people who are more physically active do better with regard to chronic disease compared with less physically active people. "It's not just that people aren't getting enough physical activity, but it's that they're also sitting too much. "And on top of that, the more you sit, the less time you have for physical activity." The study's findings are particularly relevant for office workers who spend long amounts of time at their desk, as well as truck drivers. Prof Rosenkranz added: "We should be looking at reducing the amount of time we sit. "A lot of office jobs that require long periods of sitting may be hazardous to your health because of inactivity and the low levels of energy expenditure." As researchers from the University of Western Sydney in Sydney, Australia helped with the study, all the men analysed were Australian. The study was published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity.

source and credit a telegraph

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