Is sitting the new smoking? Why 'sedentary behaviour' is a health habit worth kicking

Getting active is a New Year's resolution for many

Although setting – and sticking to – New Year's resolutions can feel daunting to some, for others it's a great opportunity to incorporate new routines and healthy habits into your lifestyle. Many trends seem to get recycled each year such as going vegan or cutting alcohol, but let us pose an arguably simple resolution: move more.

During the COVID lockdown years (apologies for the reminder) millions merged from busy jobs with a five-day commute to working from home and, even since then, many have continued to do so, or at least in a hybrid capacity.

Of course, not all jobs are office/desk-based, but those that are often result in people sitting at computers for hours on end. Productivity might rise, but at what cost? A sedentary lifestyle doesn't only mean being chained to a desk for eight hours a day, but prolonged periods of time without any movement – even in short bursts – can have detrimental effects on our health which has led many studies, including this one from Dr. James Levine from Mayo Clinic, branding it "the new smoking".

Stock image showing woman sitting at desk with laptop, eyes closed

Does it sound extreme? A little. But we spoke to experts to unpick the claim and decipher just how bad a sedentary lifestyle can be for our health. What's more, a study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that those who sit for "more than six hours a day had a significantly higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to those who sat less."

But, there's good news because (spoiler alert) it can very easily be overcome...

Is sitting really the new smoking? The experts give their say…

The question doesn't have a simple yes or no answer. However, it's known that a sedentary lifestyle over a prolonged period can cause many of the same diseases associated with smoking. Dr. Alka Patel is a GP & longevity expert who told HELLO! that the analogy is "a catchy public health slogan" that has been coined in recent years and therefore isn't a direct comparison. However, she did state that it "nonetheless underscores the significant health risks associated with prolonged sitting."

Dr. Alka continued: "Our body's metabolism slows down, affecting our ability to regulate blood sugar and metabolise fats efficiently. a musculoskeletal perspective, prolonged sitting can lead to muscle degeneration, particularly in the lower body, and increase the risk of osteoporosis due to decreased bone density. Sitting, especially with poor posture, can lead to chronic back pain and joint stiffness. Simply put, the body is designed to move, so move it we must!"

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