Sedentary Behavior
WHAT is sedentary behavior?
Sedentary behavior is defined as any activity that has an energy expenditure of less than 1.5 MET's (metabolic equivalent task). Every person engages in sedentary behavior at some point during their daily lives. These activities include watching TV, playing video games, sitting, or simply lying down.
WHY is sedentary behavior bad?
Long term sedentary behavior has been linked to health conditions such as type II diabetes, heart disease, and insulin resistance. This behavior also increases all-cause mortality according to the Korean Journal of Family Medicine. Spending too much time being physically inactive is detrimental to our health.
HOW can we reduce the amount of time we spend being sedentary?
Some activities could be taking daily walks, standing while working or on the computer, taking breaks to stand and walk around while watching TV, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and finding an enjoyable recreational activity that will get you out of the house.
Effects of Sedentary Behavior
Mental Health
A sedentary lifestyle can cause negative effects on our mental health. Sedentary behavior is proven to have an increased risk for anxiety and depression and just overall, lower levels of emotional well-being.
Health Risks
Sedentary behavior poses many risks to our health. Inactivity can lead to many chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, increased risk for stroke and many more.
Physical Effects
Sedentary behavior can have many negative effects on one's body. This includes: high risk of a high mortality rate, osteoporosis and obesity, which is starting to become one of the worst epidemics the U.S. has ever seen.