Whether it’s for watching TV, working on a computer, or during a long car ride, sitting for several hours is more common than we think. And to us, there’s nothing wrong with it… You’re mistaken! Apart from having consequences on our brains, this posture can also negatively impact our mental health. According to an American study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, sitting for extended periods can increase the risk of depression and anxiety.
To reach this conclusion, researchers observed 49,841 people aged 60 and over between 2013 to 2021. Each participant wore an activity tracker to record their movements and periods of inactivity. The experts quickly noticed cases of dementia in individuals who sit for too long. This term designates “several diseases that affect memory, thought, and the ability to perform daily tasks,” according to WHO. Remaining in this position for more than ten hours a day increases the risk by 8% of developing dementia within the next seven years. If you exceed twelve hours in a day, then the risk multiplies and rises to 63% or more.
Exercise is Not the Solution!
When we spend our day sitting on a chair behind a desk, we tend to think that exercising in the evening can allow our bodies to expend energy and therefore limit the consequences caused by this posture. But unfortunately, this is not enough… “It appears that one cannot escape the risks by exercising,” says David Raichlen, professor and co-author of the study.
Besides increasing the risk of depression, anxiety, and dementia, sitting for too long can be very bad for your physical health. You could develop muscular degeneration, heart diseases, diabetes, and even colon cancer. So, to avoid this, you know what you have to do… Stand up!
