Sitting vs. Standing. Is Your Sedentary Life Killing You?

Is sitting bad for you? It turns out, sitting is really, really bad for you. Sitting at your desk could shorten your life. So get up and walk around, OK?
Last week I talked about the many ways exercise is awesome. This week I want to focus on one way it's not. Weight loss. Sorry, but that's the topic of this week's Healthcare Triage.
Those of you who want to read more can go here: theincidentalec...
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[@karandex]

That was information overload. Let me sit down for a while.

[@KemaTheAtheist]

+Karan Chaphekar You're better standing up and walking around while musing abound it.

[@codediporpal]

+Karan Chaphekar Take up smoking. Then you'll have a great reason to get up and walk around frequently.

[@TheIppus]

Nooooo!

[@rexgeorg7324]

so why are you sitting matie

[@loganwolv3393]

Whyy? you wanna die sooner? Get used to standing to process things. Everytime you have to solve a problem in your head just sit up, make a habit of it.

[@Kaalyn_HOW]

As someone in a wheelchair, unable to stand.... this makes me wanna cry.

[@rebeccatrishel]

OurPeanutGallerie Yeah, I think they really screwed up the message for this episode.

[@Correctrix]

+OurPeanutGallerie Are you immobile, in a motorised wheelchair? Then you already know your health isn't the best. Are you wheeling yourself around with your arms? That is probably equivalent to walking in many respects. The research did not cover people in your situation.

[@zeratir7873]

+Correctrix well not really standing is standing... he did say exercise didnt have any effect on it...

[@BillyxRansom]

+Correctrix well maybe it should.

[@rebeccatrishel]

+BillyxRansom I'm pretty sure the studies didn't look at disabled people at all, so who knows?

[@Gnoggin]

I've been wanting to buy one of those fancy desks that have a button to switch between sitting and standing height. They are expensive, but I think it's worthwhile to invest into your long-term health.

[@CynicatPro]

as someone who paces tons, i find this information comforting rather than scary. which is good because i don't think i need anymore stress as i hear that's killing me

[@Kaokidx10]

CynicatPro It's actually not. TED had a conversation on this. Stress is only as harmful to you as you believe it to be.

[@SlawekNezumi]

It sounds like advertisement of Apple Watch :D "you will die if you are sitting, but dont worry - your Apple watch will tell you when to stand up!". Also - notion that it is better to smoke then sit is just hilarious. Go "science"...

[@GalanDun]

See, the problem with that is that most of my work has to be done on a full-sized computer with a real keyboard.

[@skyfooty]

Standup desk

[@24OscarM]

skyfooty Good ones are pretty expensive tho :(

[@TheSugarDealers]

That's my concern too. Many office jobs don't encourage/accommodate for short breaks. Desk jobs may involve full attendance until work completion. I am fortunate enough to give myself these breaks when I need it. My mom on the other hand has a desk job that requires her to stay for hours until a break comes up.

[@GalanDun]

***** I tend to do that anyways, plus I've got about thirty minutes a day for jogging.

[@lemonlemonster]

***** Look up some DIY options. There's a massive amount of examples online of people doing their own thing, ranging from super simple projects to let-me-build-my-own-desk difficult. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good (unless your boss explicitly prohibits the good, in which case I am sorry).

[@Aerodynamic999]

What about laying down instead of sitting

[@tyrant-den884]

That's my question too.

[@hackerman3350]

E Noori Laying down is basically the same as sitting; it just involves even less physical activity

[@howardbrandon11]

E Noori I think NASA just did a study about that, where they paid people to lie down for over 2 months.

[@tyrant-den884]

HappyMan's Hacker Reports based on what?

[@xUB34xR0UG3x]

+HappyMan's Hacker Reports sleeping is killing us

[@GameofKnowing]

[*burns chair*]

[@WrathOfMega]

My parents are always complaining that I should sit down instead of pacing around. HAH! Screw that!

[@nkosinathisitholejobe551]

😂😂

[@BennyOcean]

Watched this while sitting. Then I died.

[@juliagee8896]

What about people with disabilities who physically can't stand and walk around a lot?

[@unaliveeveryonenow]

JuliaGee Unless your capabilities for physical activity aren't limited to typing, you could exercise them? Or better yet consult with a doctor? This was a PSA aimed at general population.

[@noahstone5649]

***** On average per hour stand up and walk around for 10 min. More is better, but that should do.

[@KittyJellyBeanYT]

Be really fidgety instead! Do mild exercise every hour. Should be a decent substitute.

[@noahstone5649]

***** It's ok just try your hardest to stand. Like drinking more water so you pee more (lol). Seriously though, tea is like peeing rampage. Simply things like standing up during TV commercials or only let yourself watch a movie if you walk the neighbors dog. Think out of the box to be productive and healthy. Perhaps you could ask your teacher for a 10 min. exercise break per day? My gym teacher helped enforce this in my school. If you need some tips, I'd be perfectly happy to help.

[@noahstone5649]

Great! It never hurts to ask. :) Just tell her all the bad side effects of sitting. :P

[@inogeni]

Are there stats on people with standing/walking jobs like retail? Never been really all that sure that standing for 8+ hrs a day (minus a break) is really all that great.

[@GreenGretel]

I wonder if the key thing is aerobic movement - I know that I feel like shit after I've been on my feet for hours at, say, a museum (where there's minimal aerobic activity), whereas walking a few miles wears me out but doesn't seem to put the same stress on my body/back/feet, etc.

[@omarmaya1263]

@@GreenGretel Movement is key, any static position for prolonged periods is bad IMO

[@johnredcorn433]

I worked as cashier for 8 hours a day with a 30min sitting break. I literally had to give up running because my feet and legs were so sore. Then I moved to hosting, and I walked way more and infrequent intervals and my legs felt way better than just purely standing.

[@KemaTheAtheist]

As someone who had a TIA (aka mini-stroke) last week at the age of 31 despite not being overweight, I think I'm gonna start doing this.

[@SweetMattieG]

So in addition to working out for 30 minutes every day, I've got to drop what I'm doing, get up and walk every 20 minutes for 2 minutes. I'm getting irrationally angry that the body is built this way. Or maybe rationally angry given there aren't a whole lot of incentives to not be sedentary when you're part of the middle class.

[@Correctrix]

+Matthew Gooding It's telling you that simply not sitting around is *more* important than that work-out. And you can get 30 mins of activity by simply cycling to work for 15 mins and then back. Everyone should be that active without even thinking about it.

[@SweetMattieG]

I don't live in an urban environment, I have to drive to get anywhere. Getting up to walk for 2 minutes every 20 minutes sounds like a good way to get fired to me.

[@creshiell]

@@Correctrix cycling to work for 30??? That's how long the DRIVE takes lmfao

[@geoffreydesmit8503]

I'm sitting at a computer watching you right now Dr. Carroll, why did you just take 2.0019 minutes off my life?!?!

[@kaitlynamey7121]

I never knew that sitting could be so bad for you, little alone deadly! The numbers of the mortalities from people who barely sat to those who sat almost all of the time were truly astonishing. I know that I never thought about how bad sitting could be for you because we do it so much and its just a natural thing. As a college student, I have five classes that I am currently enrolled in, all between 2-3 hours long, and twice a week, that's a lot of sitting just right there! Whenever I get spare time I often like to sit and watch TV for an hour or so to just to relax. The statistic of sitting and watching an hour of TV could be compared to taking 21.8 minutes off of my life blew my mind! I believe that everyone needs to get up and be active for at least a half hour to an hour a day. After watching this video, I will probably try to make some changes to my everyday life so I am not sitting as much. When I am studying, I could always stand up and go over my notes and note cards. When I am doing homework, I could stand up and take a break for a little bit. I think that everyone could find ways to not sit as much to benefit their health now and in the long run.

[@NGBigfield]

I have always watched your show while walking around... Hope that makes you feel any better

[@shadowsfromolliesgraveyard6577]

What if I kneel?

[@ASilentS]

....But I could smoke quite a number of cigarettes in the course of 21.8 minutes.... so maybe it"s not the best of comparisons.

[@bobhope4288]

It is basically saying that one hour of sitting will shorten your life the same amount as if you smoked 2 cigarettes in a hour. 1Hr sitting = 2 cigarettes.

[@jezzbanger]

+SilentS just make sure that you don't sit down to smoke :O

[@brumagemm]

SilentS Mostly we're comparing our perception of danger, not actual amount of danger. EVERYONE knows smoking will kill you, but most people think it's no big deal if you sit for hours and at a time every day.

[@ASilentS]

brumagemm No, we know that smoking will increase your chance of dying early. That is not the same as "smoking will kill you". Consider the following (like Bill Nye): We know that playing Russian roulette with a 6 cylinder revolver loaded with 6 cartridges WILL kill you. We don't know that playing Russian Roulette with 2 cartridges loaded in a 6 cylinder revolver will kill you but we know that it is worse than playing Russian roulette with one cartridge in a six cylinder revolver.

[@rufuguru]

Oh great, now California is going to label chairs as a carcinogen X3

[@walterdennisclark]

What about the fact that whatever the factors that make a person vulnerable to all these diseases causes them to sit a lot?

[@tipoomaster]

So basically, ADHD is saving my life, whenever I sit in a chair I want to bounce back up in about 4 minutes flat, lol. I even pace when I eat.

[@Aaron.Reichert]

you may not want to sit down for this news.

[@FuzzCutieNerd]

Okay, but sitting is unavoidable in daily life? Class requires some form of sitting for 1-3 hours at a time (standing desks aren't provided and standing without a table and taking notes is pretty much impossible). It's not as if people are NEVER going to sit down, and the 'sitting for an hour shortens your life by 22 minutes' seems like more of a scare or oversimplification of an aggregate of a lifetime of heavy sedentary-ness (possibly combined with other factors that sitting could contribute to) versus a single hour of sitting.

[@acharyza317]

That made so much sense.

[@acharyza317]

Do you want a fucking cookie?

[@nickeckhoff]

Thank you for this video. I converted my desk at work to a standing desk and spend more than 75% of my work day standing now. I do walk periodically to the restroom, to get water, or talk to colleagues, but it's more as-needed than at periodic intervals. Have there been studies you could highlight regarding standing desks over sitting without changes in activity? I'm really not walking away from my desk more often, but I am hoping the standing is enough to have some good, worthwhile impact.

[@KarlFFF]

Good vs. bad posture? could you cover this at some point? think it would make an interesting episode like this one :)

[@indiag89]

I've been walking around while listening to this KZbin video while I clean. Motivated me to keep moving!

[@RainaRamsay]

This video would, of course, come up in the week when I have a stress fracture in my foot and have to spend all my time sitting....

[@andang6709]

I slog away in my office all day merely go out to see people that’s tough needed to change

[@juliapedrosafurlan1555]

Great job! The videos are always so pretty and simple to understand. Love the topics related to sedentarism, exercise and diets. Will support on Patreon as soon as possible

[@MrRizeAG]

Honestly this just makes me feel defeated. I'm 21 and I've been sitting for 90% of my day for my entire life. I also don't eat very healthily though I eat less than 3000 calories per day. I'm not obese but I'm a little overweight. I've kind of just accepted that I probably won't make it to 80 years. I'm actually more scared of the medical bills than I am the inevitable crippling health conditions.

[@tpespos]

Dude it's like you quit running a mile after 200 meters because you weren't doing as good as you wanted

[@MrRizeAG]

tpespos What's the point? If I'm not going to have access to technology that lets me live a thousand or a million years, then why does it matter? What's 4 or 6 extra years? If I can't extend my lifespan by a significant amount then I don't see any point in expanding it at all.

[@beccanull7758]

+Mr. Rize AG . I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels this way.

[@spartycool]

Mr. Rize AG You would just be extending your life, you would also be improving your quality of life if you make some changes.

[@MrRizeAG]

Spartacus But I'm not particularly unhappy. Quite the opposite actually. I see no reason to increase the stress in my daily life just to attain distant, intangible goals.

[@dylam007]

Easy, equip all chairs with moderate resistance bike pedals, and when you don't meet your quota of biking for 2 minutes every 30 minutes the chair violently raises and lowers the sitting position until met.

[@Wonder1800]

A very good way to deal with this issues is to buy an electric "sit-stand" desk. You can then change from sitting to standing in a few seconds. You just touch a button, and the desk height changes as appropriate. No need to take a break to stop sitting. You can keep on working, and just stand up some of the time. I bought one a couple of months ago, and it seems to have (mostly) cured my lower back pain! Of course, a cheaper alternative is just to set up a desk at standing height in your office, and move from your sitting-desk to your standing desk from time to time. However, it's much easier (and more compact) to have one desk, one main computer, etc, and just change the height as needed.

[@annakaiser278]

There have recently been a slew of health articles written regarding the health risks of sitting for long periods of times. Many of these articles have focused upon careers that require long periods of sitting, jobs that are typically referred to as “sit-down jobs” or “desk jobs”. When you think about the health risks of sitting for prolonged periods of time I’m sure many things come to mind. What first comes to mind for me is obesity, back problem caused by lack of proper posture, and early onset of more serious health risks due to lack of physical activity. It is crazy to think that, even people who have a relatively active lifestyle, and who may only sit down for frequent amounts of time due to work are still at a greater risk of health concerns than people who work in my physically demanding jobs. Not only is sitting linked with a higher risk of certain disease, but it has also been found to cause a higher risk of colon cancer, endometrial cancer, and lung cancer! So what can you do if you work a desk job? It’s not like you can just quit your job and find one that offers more opportunities for physical activity! I liked how the video included studies that showed the positive effects of getting up and moving at various intervals throughout your work day. But what else can you do to help lower the risks that come with a desk job? Like everything else in the world of “healthy living” the main thing that sticks out to me would be to just get up and get moving whenever you possibly can. If it is not a possibility at work then go out after work and go to the gym, get groceries, even something as simple as walking your dog! The biggest thing would be “forcing” yourself to go out and do some physical activity after a long day of work even when you’re tired. The main thing to focus on is the fact that it is extremely important that we take care of ourselves to the best of our abilities.

[@Cythil]

Well it would be nice if there was some more research that tries to get to the bottom of this. Why sitting is so bad for you. We have know this for quite some time after all. And if we did research it a bit more then we could also put in place better preventative measures. And it might also lead to us developing better treatment for other conditions to. Who knows. Well at least we can do something for the moment. We might not know exactly what the issue is. But we know at least something can be done to lessen the harmful effects.

[@TomatoBreadOrgasm]

I don't understand how people _can_ sit for an entire day. 20 minutes and I need to get up and move around for a while. Am I the only one who gets antsy? Maybe anxiety is good for your health...

[@howtodoit4204]

It’s social anxiety

[@HAZEplus]

Everyone isn't you

[@Rippertear]

Two words: desk treadmill.

[@HomeSkillenSLICE]

How the fuck does that work when you program or design art on a computer lol

[@Vulcapyro]

HomeSkillenSLICE Digital art is one thing, but programming and related jobs don't have you actually writing code all the time. It's feasible.

[@vaibhavgupta20]

What's that?

[@Rippertear]

Vaibhav Gupta a treadmill- probably fairly slow, but a treadmill nonetheless-you build into your desk that keeps you on your feet and exercising all day.

[@RemizZ]

+HomeSkillenSLICE You don't run on it, you just walk at a comfortable speed

[@phantomstrider]

This is why I do my filming standing up nowadays XD Standing feels nicer a lot of the time anyway. Lets me stretch my legs a bit.

[@HyperSpify]

Standing can wreck your feet and blood vessels in your legs and feet though. If you're going to be up on your feet, it's best to be walking.

[@beccafrances31]

This is really interesting...I wonder how much it would help kids and teens in school who sit most of the day.

[@Espenskar]

It's funny you said that at the end, because this video reminded me to stand up more, so I started jogging around my room while listening to the video!

[@reginacattus8711]

I knew school lessons and exams were taking days off my lifespan!!! All those hours sat down not allowed to get up and move around. Am I right or am I over-generalizing? Of course, the benefits probably outweigh the downsides, but since apparently our attention spans aren't that long either (especially as children), surely it would be quite feasible to break up lessons with a little movement!

[@cdmurray88]

I'm curious, when does standing too much become a problem? My job has me on my feet for 8-12 hours/day. I can't even imagine sitting for 8 hours/day; I'd go crazy.

[@jerryrodriguez7377]

Hi everyone they say if you sit too much you get herramoids & if you stand to much back aches circulation issues etc i guess you must stretch & walk as much as possible to feel good & healthybas posible may god bless us with good health someone let us know please positive feedback 🙏

[@stephaniecarter3351]

After watching this video, I wonder how long I'll end up living. For most of my life, I have been sitting in a desk chair 8 hours a day, 7 days a week. Its worrisome that something I was forced to do could end up effecting my life expectancy. I also think about the people who decided to have office jobs. They sit at their desk for hours on end doing paperwork, research, etc. and they could be doing this for 40+ years. But because of this finding, they might not even make it to 40+ years in their lifetime as an adult. If more people knew the health risks of a sedentary lifestyle, I wonder we would see more desk treadmills or an increase in walking breaks in the work place. While most people think about their health, they don't act upon new changes to better it which could increase their risk of a shorter life due to colon cancer and the rest of the health risks mentioned in the video.

[@jezzbanger]

I'm doing some speculating here. Perhaps it's because we have two circulatory systems? The obvious one, blood, is pumped around the body, regardless of activity. The lymphatic system-which houses a significant portion of our immune response- is not pumped and relies on our body's movement by muscle contractions to circulate. There is a good chance that when you're sitting, you're not periodically contracting and relaxing any major muscle groups so you're not really circulating your lymphatic system effectively. So standing up and walking around a bit would swish this system around nicely, giving this system a chance to do its good in the immune system effectively. It would explain why doing an intense bout of activity doesn't make up for the stagnation earlier.

[@Chugosh]

is sitting killing me? maybe not. Thanks for hitting the web with all of this good science.

[@ninhbac04]

Everyone with a 9-5 desk job is cutting their life shorter by sitting for long periods of time. Just exercise regularly and you'll be fine. Have a active lifestyle and you'll be fine.

[@acharyza317]

yer

[@pejko89]

Great channel. This is eye opening. I usually sit throughout the day and then go running for 30 min. in the evening. I thought I lived a healthy lifestyle.

[@delicee1084]

Wow I found this video very informational, this is something i feel most adults would not be aware of and even if they were they would not take yield to. I believe the research done is as well very significant but I feel as though looking into the diets of those sedentary could also have a big part to play in the health risks. I feel as though we live in this generation that is now constantly wanting results and everything faster. Faster not only with the technology but with food and nutrition as well. The number of fast food restaurants have increased over the last 10 years and with this Americans have been resorting to eat there rather than slaving over stoves but by doing this they miss out on vital nutrients in home cooked meals with less grease and sugars than the Fast Food joints. Also as an added bonus just the thought of cooking your meals requires you to walk more, thus having you be less sedentary and potentially lowering health risks associated with sitting down and eating healthy. This was a very insightful video and I believe if research was done on nutrition and the effects on the sedentary lifestyle I believe new finds would occur and show that the food you eat has a very big impact on any health risks associated.

[@donfolstar]

So many questions: 1. The numbers at :59 : "Sitting almost all of the time" as in almost all waking hours? That is sad :( 2. What about active sitting? Sitting on a yoga ball, for example. 3. So you're saying that I should lay down more? Can I get a doctor's note to show my boss?

[@manhattanofficedesign9256]

It is widely supported by lots of medical evidence how prolonged sitting is bad for your health. Basically, every excess of time in one single posture is risky for our bodies. To alternate is imperative. For all those in office jobs, whether at home or at office, standing desks tools are a request. Standing desks, monitor arms, standing base, there is a wide range of tools for you. In NYC Manhattan Office Design has the right gadgets for you, with the best brands, like Humanscale Furniture, or HON Furniture.

[@gl7827]

so basically those of us who can't walk and have no chose but to sit all day are screwed right?

[@hackerman3350]

gl7827 Even paraplegics need to stand once in a while

[@gl7827]

yea there is a reason I said cant my legs and back cant hold me up so I cant stand at all so yea

[@AlthenaLuna]

gl7827 The observations were made on healthy, normal weight people (who have a choice in the matter). I think they'd have to (and SHOULD) do a lot of specialized testing to find out what would work as an alternative for those who physically cannot just get up and walk around for their health, like us (though my specifics are different than yours) and many other people. I'm already unhealthy enough because of my disability...I really don't want my disability itself to make me even more unhealthy than it already has, but it also limits what I can do about it.

[@andomadsen3743]

I'd be totally down for a little 2-minute "Get up and move!" on-screen buddy. Maybe even Mark Olsen could make him a mascot of sorts.

[@johnparadise3134]

Is lying down bad for us to? And, if so, should we be sleeping standing up? And if lying down is bad for us, maybe worse than sitting, and we lie down when we sleep, but not getting sleep is very harmful, then WTF?

[@StupidButCunning]

I think a recent study was done saying that standing wasn't really any better for you than sitting, and that for any benefit you need to perform physical activity. Maybe you should do a video on that to clear up any confusion.

[@SakraIgor0qNomoko]

More likely, it's the other way around. As anyone who is severely overweight knows, it's a pain on the feet to be standing or walking around for periods of time, so sitting occurs more often and for longer periods of time. Being overweight also accounts for all the other symptoms, as you mentioned.

[@lemonlemonster]

The biomechanist Katy Bowman's book Move Your DNA talks a lot about the effects of sitting and is a great read for anyone interested about the subject. She talks about how our environment shapes the way we move and how our cells adapt to different biomechanical stimuli. The way we form and use our bodies has an interesting and profound effect that we are just now starting to understand. She's also about to come out with a new book called Don't Just Sit There that is solely about this subject and how to create a work space that easily allows dynamic movement while still being an effective work space.

[@FruityHachi]

i'm currently suffering the consequences of prolonged sitting plus a poor posture, and whenever i'm reading or watching sth whether it's digital or not i'm walking around, and when sth requires me to work on the pc i'm switching positions between standing and laying down. i know laying down while working on laptop isn't good, but i'm taking breaks every 10-20mins and i have a lot of work to do, so i'm praying that laying position will not worsen my condition

[@maryellenputnam-reinhardt3305]

I told my friend this for years. He passed this July 2022. 300 lbs, rarely got out of his chair. :(

[@beccaturcotte5144]

So being disabled at a very young age and being unable to get up and walk around a whole bunch gets worse xD I really hoped this was not backed up too strong

[@nygreenguy]

Oh my gosh, +Healthcare Triage, I think I was a participant in one of those activity/meal replacement studies!

[@rebeccatrishel]

Dr. Aaron, I don't think you thought this one through. I've worked multiple jobs where I was on my feet for 8, 10, or even 12+ hours at a time with only 1 short break, and I wasn't healthier; I was miserable and in pain most of the time because I developed bunions and very painful callouses. (I really needed nicer shoes, but I couldn't afford them at my wages.) I'm not saying that sitting without interruption for 8 hours is particularly good for you either, but having a desk job was much less physically painful to me - plus I wasn't exposed to extreme heat and cold, chemicals, loud noises and all the other hazards that I was exposed to at my other jobs. I can't say that my coworkers were free of diabetes, heart disease or cancer either. Saying that it's "Easy to fix!" is true - if you're already healthy. It's not so easy for somebody who's sick! Someone who's struggling with depression or other mental health problems, or joint problems or many other illnesses won't find it so easy to stand for longer periods. What if you have a bad back or arthritis in your knees? What if you have diabetic neuropathy in your legs? If standing is painful, then it's not going to be so easy to do! And, of course, some people can't stand at all. I'm kind of dubious on the science on this one because of the correlation/causation problem (sick people tend to be more sedentary and do you really think that sitting down causes cancer) but whatever, maybe it's true, but it's not useful advice at all unless you happened to be lucky enough to have the freedom to move about as you please and good enough health to do it as well.

[@DanThePropMan]

+Rebecca Johnson I was dubious too, but to be fair, he's not presenting it as a choice between "standing all day" and "sitting all day". He's just saying that if you do sit all day, try to get up and walk around for a minute or two every so often. That's much more practical. I am one of those people who can't stand for long periods - I was really worried that Dr. Carroll would say "everyone should be standing all the time!". But that doesn't seem to be the case. Yes, he's assuming that you are able to sit or stand equally well, but knowing him, I don't think he would ever want someone to stand more if it causes them pain. I think he would say (as would I) that tangible harm in the present outweighs increased risk in the future.

[@rebeccatrishel]

+DanThePropMan Sure, I agree, but some people can't stand *at all.* If you scroll down, you can see a comment written by someone who uses a wheelchair and can't stand. Where do they fit in here? The only message they can get from this is that sitting is as bad as smoking and they're gonna die, which isn't helpful. My issue is less with the advice and more with his statement that it's easy to fix and his comparison of it to smoking - both of which would be very upsetting for someone who can't stand to hear. I realize that this advice is only for relatively healthy people, but he didn't say that or put any kind of disclaimers on it. Someone who's disabled already feels invisible most of the time, you know?

[@DanThePropMan]

Rebecca Johnson I don't think it's fair to criticize Dr. Carroll for addressing a general audience. Obviously there are people who can't stand up, and if you are one of them, you've got bigger fish to fry. I'm guessing he simply thought that the disclaimer was unnecessary, as do I.

[@rebeccatrishel]

+DanThePropMan Isn't that ableism?

[@DanThePropMan]

Rebecca Johnson What would you propose instead?

[@NiramBG]

That was so much information! So what is the best way to do it? After sitting for an hour walk around (or just stand) for 2 minutes?

[@PriyaDharshini-rm4ot]

Working in Straive India. More than 10 yrs. It's hectic nowadays. Already installed apps to check our activities, mouse movements, whether using mobile or company provided lap, etc.. and we are giving everyday production regularly. Still an uneducated girl leading my team is shouting at us.. saying work from home peoplae not working..😢

[@neorich59]

Interesting, however, I recently read a book by Tim Spector, British Doctor, called "Spoon Fed" about diet myths and he mentions living for some time with The Hadza Tribe in Tanzania, still largely hunter gatherers and expected to find them moving about a lot more than those of us in the "civilized" world, but was surprised to find that they are every bit as "sedentary" as we are. They sit/lounge about for hours, only stirring, if there's work to be done, or they need to gather/hunt for food!

[@meghangonzales6677]

This is unfortunately becoming a large issue in our world, it's like the movie Wall-E when all the people were so obese and just floated in the chairs, never walked just floating. Many people sit behind a computer or tv for majority of their day and they will in turn end up with severe heart problems due to the lack of blood flow moving through our bodies. I fear that with all the new technology we are going to end up exactly like the movie. There are so many movement eliminating products coming to our world. Our children grow up playing on iPads, iPhones, and more instead of playing outside and enjoying our atmosphere and learning what life away from technology is like.

[@taylorplank3845]

I definitely believe that being sedentary for long periods of time can pose health risks. Some of the health risks that come to mind include symptoms of more serious diseases, obesity, and back problems. From experience, sitting for a long time does start to cause pain in my back so I have to stand and walk around often. Although I believe that being sedentary can pose health risks, I do not know how much I believe that it can increase the risk of developing cancer. These health risks can be diminished by making it a point to get up and walk around more often. Simply walking the dog or going to get the mail are a couple of ways to get up and move throughout the day. Many people work in an environment where they are sitting a majority if the day. For these individuals, simply standing up while on the phone or walking to get lunch on break. Also, they could go to the gym or even go grocery shopping. It is shocking to find out that individuals who have a relatively active life and only sit down for work are at a greater risk for health problems than an individual who has a physically demanding job.

[@scottsoulard7245]

I think stand and kneeling as much as possible are the best exercise than sitting I think people should sit as less as possible sitting causes depression anxiety and wright gain

[@TheRedeye6]

I wonder if that contributes to the better health outcomes for older and retired adults who have pets vs. those who don't. Aside from the emotional attachment and mental engagement you can have with a pet, they can get people moving. Especially dogs. So instead of sitting on the couch all day, people are getting up and moving around, if only briefly, every couple hours to let the dog out, fetch a toy, get the brush, walk the dog, ect. I'd be curious to know if there is any good science linking that kind of activity to longer and healthier lives, especially later in life.

[@E231986]

I really wish this episode specified exactly what "sedentary behavior" means compared to "sitting" and/or "laying", etc. But then again, there were an awful lot of facts/definitions to wade through as it stood.

[@eli_here]

Worrying because I sit a lot, but this is great information. Thank you !

[@bdallaway]

I would be excited to see an episode about interpreting risk based on RR and HR. The RR reported in these studies has statistical significance, though the CI is not reported. The levels are below 2 where I start to interpret clinical significance. I know I would value your opinion on interpreting risk, and believe others would value it too.

[@AlexanderPavel]

This is why I want a desk treadmill. However, I sadly don't have enough room in my dorm. Bummer...

[@bjamina]

I just got home from a 38 mile bike ride and this is nearly the first thing I did, give me a break haha

[@TeaBurn]

I guess I'm one of the exceptions. I worked as a clerk for over 8 years (_with_ those supposedly anti-fatigue mats), standing daily for 8-11 hours a day, 5-6 days a week. I ended up needing knee surgery in my left knee from too much standing, on top of planter fasciitis in both feet, overgrowth of bone in the right foot right at the arch, _and_ flat feet according to multiple podiatrists I went to in Canada (because I like having a second or third opinion). Before getting the job as a clerk, I played in 2 sports teams, and did weight-lifting with no issues, feeling like a million bucks on a daily. Now I can't stand for more than 15 minutes without pain in my left knee, can't run anymore without feeling excruciating pain in my legs like hot nails are being driven into my joints and in the muscles of my calves, and instantly feel pain without having to look outside if it starts to rain. Even orthotics don't work for me at this point because there's too much damage done to my legs. Is all this worth a few more years of my life? I'm happy to go out at even 60, because I don't want to die in a diaper.

[@HomeSkillenSLICE]

Daaamn homes I guess im kind of happy I killed 4 years of my life sitting like a bitch on the computer all day lol. OK well I guess there's moderation as well. Not what I do but also not your situation either. Hope the knee and feet work out for you!

[@TeaBurn]

HomeSkillenSLICE Thanks. As they say, everything in moderation. The average person in front of a computer is probably sitting too much, and people like me are (or were) standing too much. So it's important to find that good balance of both.

[@rebeccatrishel]

GCyclone I agree. When I worked jobs that had me on my feet for multiple hours at a time, I developed some painful callouses that made it really painful to stand or walk or move.

[@akselvhansen3011]

Maybe its not thaat bad but ofcouse its better to stand up most of the time but its also a factor that people that sit down alot also eat alot - i think you are right but maybe the stats needs to be looked at from another pov

[@DavidAWA]

I'm gonna try taking breaks to do sit up and hope that helps. this is scary stuff.

[@johnhaynes4005]

Ive never sat down in my whole life...but I sometimes rest but don't sit on chairs but I do sit down but I sit on the wall even at school

[@IndyThought]

It's information like this that leads me to believe OSHA will be making standing desks and such mandatory at some point. It also could be used by employers to make standing positions more prevalent.

[@harriettubman2717]

The best part about school is that you spend half your day sitting down. :D

[@nblade66]

What counts as sitting, though? For example, if I squat, is that better? Or if I lean back, say, 45 degrees. Or if I kneel?

[@Cloud_Seeker]

What I want to see is what a lot of standing all day do to your health. People back in the days didn't sit as much as we do today, but they also suffered a lot of having their limbs worn out, I haven't heard of many stories nowdays where people have such a bad back for carrying potatoes all day.

[@SeismicDragon]

Going back to standing at my desk. Thanks HCT!

[@Suph373]

What about different "postures"? I usually sit somewhat reclined even in normal chairs, or sometimes Indian/criss-cross style. I recall studies showing how "proper posture" is actual one of the worst postures, but I'm unsure of the evidence

[@KyouTGD]

What do I physically do, then? I don't work at an office. I stand or walk for 8 hours a day five days a week. How much more walking do I need?

[@JessBonomo]

It would be kinda funny, next live show Aaron will do the usual announcements "this is not medical advice, you should see your doctor, I must not hit the table" and then "Oh! And get up now. Walk around the room til I say you can sit again".

[@naturenfire]

How can I control for sitting in situations like school, where I spend a good 50% of my week . then I come home and do homework, on my bed and then sleep . I'm sitting a lot but I don't know how to control some of that

[@KilgoreTroutAsf]

The question is: is there a real direct causal correlation between sitting and health issues or is it just correlation (stressful jobs, long hours, bad diet, etc.)

[@BenjaminAlexander]

If you add a 3 second reminder to "stand up while watching this video" to the opening credits .... that would be a serious commitment to a cost-effective health improvement strategy. Talk about not forgetting to be awesome!

[@mclaine33]

Yea my boss would never allow me to take a 2 min break every 30 mins. Besides I work in a 2 story building. I would have to walk up and down the stairs a lot and stairs have been know to wear out knees.

[@eon001]

I would like to look into the concept of exercising not offsetting the effects of sitting. I sit at work and train at the gym for an hour every day. Surely that must have an effect. I've also stopped sitting on the train. No matter how long my journey, I stand throughout.

[@tyrant-den884]

He said that lots of exercise doesn't undo it. If you wanted to come up with a randomized control trial to test this over a long period of time: be our guest.

[@Krystalcove]

eon001 It seems like the effects just don't cancel out; like yeah, exercising is good but it doesn't negate the bad effects of a cigarette, for example.

[@KittyJellyBeanYT]

That is like smoking cigarettes and then working out. Working out is great but doesn't fix the negative effects of smoking. In the same way working out doesn't cancel out the negative effects of sitting. That's the comparison a different channel made. I think the video was entitled "the solution to sitting." It was really informative too. Not as good as Healthcare triage too. This channel is so thorough.

[@Krystalcove]

haha that's literally what i just said

[@rebeccatrishel]

KittyJellyBean Is that really an honest comparison? Sitting down is natural behavior for humans. Smoking cigarettes is not. I can decide to never smoke a cigarette in my life easily, but I can't never sit down.

[@thisisnancybot]

I actually walk while watching a lot of my youtube videos. I play them on my phone and do loops around my apartment. I also do this while reading (don't worry, I have a clear path). I started doing this after purchasing a fitbit, and was trying to find ways to hit 10,000 steps. It really draws attention to how much time I was sitting around while at home. My husband thinks I'm nuts though.

[@JustinAlexanderBell]

I was sitting down while watching this, thanks a lot HCT.

[@AlexanderPavel]

I actually have an app on my pebble that alerts me every 20 minutes to walk and then times me for 2 minutes. It's quite useful.

[@kimberlyw2591]

*stands up to watch video*

[@PurpleCloud619]

Kimberly W Same here 😂

[@luv2travel2000]

Great video. Concise and to the point.

[@Leah-xh1rc]

Do any of these studies, I wonder, specify how the subjects were sitting or for what purpose? 'Cause sitting very relaxed and passively watching television is different from constantly shifting and readjusting your position and being focused on work. I'm also curious as to how something like a restless leg would figure into it, it's sorta like an activity, would that maybe "break" this possible physiological signaling that you're at rest?

[@WoundedWarrior2012]

I sit ALL THE TIME. My blood pressure, pulse and weight are perfect!

[@zeratir7873]

standing will kill my knees... sitting will give me cancer and death...

[@LisaThinksALot]

Do we know how much just fidgeting helps offset any of this? Because I'm a big fidget-er, but I don't know if that would help at all.

[@gyozakeynsianism]

Oh man ... I was firmly in the "I sit a lot but at least I go running often" camp, but apparently that's not good enough.