Prolonged Time Sitting May Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Previous research has suggested that sitting for extended periods of time may have negative effects on weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar. Now a recent study suggests that extended periods of sitting may be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

For their study, the researchers included 105,677 participants from 21 countries. Time spent sitting daily was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Participants were followed for an average of 11 years and all incidences of cardiovascular disease were recorded.

Participants who spent more than 8 hours per day sitting and were the least active had a 50% increased risk of cardiovascular disease, compared to those who sat less than 4 hours per day and were physically active. Those who sat more than 8 hours per day and were physically active had a 17% higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

The researchers that for participants who sat more than 4 hours per day, replacing a half hour of sitting with exercise reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 2%.

The study was conducted by researchers from Simon Fraser University and the Beijing Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. It was published online ahead of print on June 15, 2022 in the journal JAMA Cardiology.

A previous study found that increasing time spent standing may have blood sugar benefits.