Explore the surprising impact of sitting versus exercise on diabetes and obesity risk, particularly for women, with insights from a major U.S. study showing even light activity helps.
Excessive sitting, coupled with minimal physical activity, significantly raises the risk of developing conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes. These are the key findings highlighted in a recent study published in the prestigious Journal of the Medical Association. While public health campaigns often tout the benefits of exercise, they may inadvertently overlook the crucial impact of reducing sedentary behavior.
The study, which analyzed data from across the United States from 1997 onwards, revealed that men spend an average of 29 hours per week sitting, while women spend approximately 34 hours per week in sedentary activities.
This research underscores the greater impact of inactivity on women, especially those who, at the start of the study, were already experiencing excess weight, heart problems, high blood pressure or diabetes. The study indicated that around 8% of overweight women were affected, compared to about 3% of women with diabetes. The researchers found a link between increased sitting time in women without any physical activity and the increased risk of developing diabetes and obesity.
The risk of developing diabetes and obesity increases with every two hours of sitting time daily. Conversely, engaging in physical activity reduces the risk of developing these conditions by one-third daily.
Moreover, the study suggests that women who are less active face a 90% to 200% higher risk of developing these conditions, compared to more active women.
These findings confirm that reducing physical activity and, specifically, increased sitting time are significantly linked to an increased risk of developing diabetes and obesity.
The researchers suggest that simple activities, such as cleaning the house, can be more beneficial than previously thought and provide significant health benefits.
sitting time, physical activity, diabetes, obesity, women’s health, sedentary behavior, health risks, exercise benefits
