Do you remember being implored as a child to “please sit quietly” and finding it almost impossible to do? How much better we got at it as we grew older!
Well, it turns out this is one skill we shouldn’t be practicing to perfection. Studies show that too many of us spend too much time being “sedentary”—sitting or lying down and expending very little energy (1;2). In fact, most Canadians spend at least half our waking hours sitting (2). That includes the hours we spend commuting, at work and during our leisure time (watching television and computer screens, reading, dining).
Too much time spent sitting can increase our risk for heart attacks, strokes, type 2 diabetes, depression and other mental health concerns, and cancer (3-5). What’s more, even adults who exercise for the minimum recommended 150 minutes a week are still at risk of poor health if they regularly sit for long stretches of time (5). That may come as a surprise to people who think that as long as they’re getting some regular exercise, it doesn’t matter what they do—or don’t do—the rest of the time.
One systematic review measured the effectiveness of programs aimed at reducing adults’ sedentary time and the impact on health risks (6). The review included 34 randomized controlled trials and involved more than 5,800 participants who took part in various programs focusing on promoting physical activity, reducing sedentary time, changing lifestyle behaviours, or combinations of those approaches.
Studies ranged in length from three to six months and compared changes in sedentary time (self-reported or measured using devices such as step counters) between those involved in a program to those in a control group.
So , just what did this review find?
What the research tells us
Programs and supports to reduce sedentary time do work—at least in the short term. Programs that focused on decreasing sitting time or changing lifestyle behaviours reduced sedentary time by 42 minutes and 24 minutes a day respectively, although these benefits did not last in the long term (6). Another review using similar programs supported these results—finding that such programs may lead to a reduction in sedentary time of up to nearly an hour every day (7).
Interestingly, programs focused solely on promoting exercise resulted in little or no change (6). In other words, we need to think about sitting less – not just exercising more – to change our sedentary behaviour.
Devices that measure steps and activity may help you make these changes. Evidence from another systematic review, including 15 randomized controlled trials and over 3200 participants (8) found that step counters such as pedometers or accelerometers help to reduce sedentary time a small but significant amount (participants spent on average 23 minutes less a day being sedentary). However, a smaller but more recent systematic review found that accelerometers, but not pedometers are beneficial (9). Why the difference? Well, the review’s authors noted that the ability of accelerometers to more accurately detect steps could be a factor (9).
The research also suggests that setting a goal—for example 10,000 steps a day—helps reduce sedentary time even more, particularly if the goal is customized to the needs and abilities of the individual (6).
A few tips to reduce sitting time include taking frequent breaks from your desk or couch to move about; walking around while talking on the phone; and cleaning, exercising or doing activities while watching television (10). Monitor your own daily habits and if you find you’re sitting too long and too often, then for your own good – get up and get moving!
Walking with other people may help you meet your step goals. Click here to learn more about the benefits of walking groups.
