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Silent Threat: Hours of Sitting

 

The expression "sitting is the new smoking" was coined by Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic over a decade ago, drawing attention to the risks of sedentary behavior (Levine, 2014). Since then, several studies have investigated the impacts of prolonged sitting, reinforcing the need for greater awareness and strategies to combat both sedentarism and prolonged sitting (Messing & Dautel, 2025; Siddiqi et al., 2025).

Sedentary behavior, characterized by low-energy activities such as sitting or screen time, represents a significant portion of work hours in an office environment. Studies show that spending more than seven hours a day sitting is associated with a progressive increase in mortality, as well as an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (Goyal & Rakhra, 2024; Leppe-Zamora et al., 2025).

Different strategies have been proposed to mitigate these risks in the workplace. Digital interventions, with reminders to perform small exercises or stand up, have proven effective in reducing sitting time, although larger-scale and longer-term studies are still needed to confirm their effects on health and productivity (Leppe-Zamora et al., 2025). Additionally, simple and accessible activities in the workplace itself, such as climbing stairs, have been shown to be acceptable to workers and are associated with improvements in metabolic markers (Mat Azmi et al., 2022).

Furthermore, prolonged sitting contributes to discomfort and muscle stiffness, especially in areas such as the neck and shoulders. Exercises targeting these muscle groups have shown potential to reduce stiffness and alleviate related pain, constituting an important additional strategy in combating the physical consequences of occupational sedentarism (Nitta et al., 2025).

 

Here's our advice:

Take an active break. Don't stay stuck in your chair! Every hour, stand up for 5 minutes, stretch, move around, and revitalize!

 

References

  • Goyal J, Rakhra G. Sedentism and Chronic Health Problems. Korean J Fam Med. 2024 Sep;45(5):239-257. doi: 10.4082/kjfm.24.0099. Epub 2024 Sep 19. PMID: 39327094; PMCID: PMC11427223.
  • Leppe-Zamora J, Ramos-Fuster S, Muñoz-Monari B, Roa-Alcaino S, Sarmiento OL. The effect of computer prompt in breaks of sedentary behavior among office workers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act Jun 13, 2025;22(1):75. doi: 10.1186/s12966-025-01781-0. PMID: 40514667; PMCID: PMC12164069.
  • Levine JA. Get Up! Why Your Chair Is Killing You and What You Can Do About It. New York: St. Martin’s Press; 2014.
  • Mat Azmi ISM, Wallis GA, White MJ, Puig-Ribera A, Eves FF. Desk based prompts to replace workplace sitting with stair climbing; a pilot study of acceptability, effects on behavior and disease risk factors. BMC Public Health. 31 Oct 2022;22(1):1985. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-14393-1. PMID: 36316656; PMCID: PMC9620615.
  • Messing K, Dautel J-P. Is Sitting Really the New Smoking? Health of North American Workers Exposed to Prolonged Static Standing. NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. 2025;35(2):125-136. doi: 10.1177/10482911251324524.
  • Nitta A, Aoki M, Okino K, Yamane M, Kataoka Y, Kohmura C. Time-dependent changes in neck extensor muscle stiffness with prolonged fixation and the effect of exercise. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2025 Mar;38(2):241-252. doi: 10.1177/10538127241303359. Epub 2024 Dec 11. PMID: 40084577.
  • Siddiqi MM, Sufian A, Farhan AA, Siddiqi MM. "Sitting is the New Smoking”: Studying the Impact of Prolonged Sedentary Behavior Among Work-from-Home Professionals on Cardiovascular Health. European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine. 2025 Jun;15(6):567-571.