Couch Potatoes – Even Active Ones -- Have Higher Risk Of Health Problems

Sitting for long periods of time – regardless of the amount of time spent exercising -- is bad for health, a Canadian study confirms. In fact, the amount of time spent sitting is directly proportional to the risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and death. The meta-analysis of previous studies on sedentary behavior found that the negative effects of sitting time on health were more noticeable among people who did little or no exercise than among those who exercised a lot. The researchers said more research is needed to determine how much physical activity is needed to offset the health risks associated with sitting for long periods of time.