Sedentary time associated with higher waist circumference & increased cardiovascular risk

Sedentary time associated with higher waist circumference & increased cardiovascular risk The negative health effects of a sedentary lifestyle are well known. Yet another study has shown a sedentary lifestyle to be associated with increased risk of heart disease. In a new study from UK published January 31, 2017 in the International Journal of Obesity led by Dr William Tigbe from Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, workers who had desk jobs were found to have higher waist circumference and increased risk of heart disease. The study included 111 healthy non-smoking postal workers from Glasgow and randomized them into two groups: 55 were office workers and 56 walked/delivered post. The waist circumference was 2 cm higher in those who had desk jobs; 97 cm vs 94 cm, respectively. The risk of heart diseases was also higher in the workers who had desk jobs. 2.2% compared to 1.6% over 10 years. With each extra hour of sitting from five hours a day, the LDL ‘bad’ cholesterol increased and HDL ‘good’ cholesterol reduced. The various health benefits of walking are well recognized. It has been shown in a study published earlier this year in the American Journal of Epidemiology that lack of exercise affects the human body right up to the cellular level. Elderly women who sit for more than 10 hours a day with low physical activity had cells that were biologically older by eight years compared to women who are more active. Hence, physical activity is recommended for all ages. Getting people to move more is a key strategy for reducing the burden of NCDs, as outlined in WHO's Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020. The plan calls for a 10% relative reduction in insufficient physical activity by the year 2025 to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). White collar workers or people who have desk jobs spend most of their working hours sitting in chairs. Interventions that encourage walking and physical activity in the workplace are needed to counter the negative health effects of sedentary behavior. The IMA initiative ‘Move, Move and Move’ is a campaign to increase awareness about the benefits of physical activity and to encourage people to be more active at work and cut down on sedentary time. (Source: Medical News Today) Dr KK Aggarwal National President IMA & HCFI