We are spending more time seated than ever. However, sitting for long periods of time has been shown to be a risk factor for a number of diseases, including obesity, type II diabetes and increased blood pressure. Excessive sitting is also linked to some types of cancer and even premature death.
The ill effects of prolonged sitting are that it slows down our metabolism and therefore it dampens our ability to regulate blood glucose and blood pressure.
Being a couch potato is not the only concern to wreak havoc on our bodies. Extended sitting at your desk or driving can be harmful too. In fact, studies have shown that the bad effects of long-term sitting cannot be counteracted by moderate or even vigorous exercise.
So what can we do about it? We can simply stand up as much as possible. If we have to sit for a prolonged period, we should break it up with short bouts of activities. Avoiding a sedentary lifestyle is very crucial, so perhaps we should take the stairs and help with housework more often.
| JPC Monthly Newsletter | |
| Editor： | Police Public Relations Branch, 11/F Arsenal House, Police Headquarters, No. 1 Arsenal Street, Wan Chai, HK. |
| Tel： | 2860 6157 |
| Fax： | 2200 4304 |
| JPC homepage： | http://www.hkpjpc.org.hk |
| Police homepage： | http://www.police.gov.hk |