What You Need to Know About Sedentary Lifestyle

During the last century, the way we do some daily activities have changed a lot with the arrival of the industrial era, computers, technology, social media, and so on. More and more jobs require less physical efforts since computers can do a large number of things and sedentary has become part of thousands of people’s lives.

To understand this phenomenon let’s first explain what is its definition

What is Sedentary Lifestyle?

Someone has a sedentary lifestyle when you're not submitting yourself to physical activity during long periods. The World Health Organization (WHO) says that at least 60% of the world's population lives a sedentary life, without performing enough physical activity as recommended for each person's age and condition

In essence, this means that any time a person is sitting or lying down they are in a sedentary position. As Evelyn O’Neill mentioned for an article for the Health Harvard website, sitting around all day can be just as prejudicial as smoking, because when the body is not moving more health problems can occur because the body is not physically active.

Some common behaviors include watching TV, video game playing, computer use, driving cars, and reading. But any kind of extended sitting can be harmful.

Who is Most Likely to Be Sedentary?

There is a fact nobody can refute, the older we get the less we move. If we compare the life of an 8 years old kids who enjoy playing outside, goes to the park and run, with some who has already 35 years old, married, with full-time job and kids, who is going to be less active? 1 in 5 adults are sedentary.

This is particularly frequent in developed countries affecting women, older adults, and people with low incomes.

We must highlight that both, men and women, regardless of their age or sociopolitical situation, can end up living sedentary lifestyles.

However, this is not always the case. Recent statistics show that American teenagers are suffering from obesity with no sign of slowing, and the main reason is that they are increasingly adopting a sedentary lifestyle; just eating and staying inactive for many hours.

Health Effects

Prolonged physical inactivity can affect your health without even realizing it and contributes to these health problems:

- High blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels

- Mental health issues

- Increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

- Decrease muscle mass

- It is a great factor involved in weight gain.

- Chances to develop venous thrombosis

- Obesity

- Sleeping problems

- Loss of flexibility

- Muscular atrophy

- Premature aging (this applies to teen and young adults)

How to Fight This Behavior?

Of course, movement is the painkiller of this behavior.

Doing a small amount of exercise can affect positively the routines for someone who is dealing with a sedentary life, no matter if they don't sweat or make a great effort. They are still moving, stimulating the muscles, and that's the goal.

Regular physical activity like walking for 30 minutes 3 times a week is a way to start. Doesn't matter if you segment this activity too, let's say, 15 minutes walking in the morning and the other 15 minutes in the afternoon.

You can build a schedule that fits your schedule, and even mix this activity to others you already have. For instance, instead of going to the grocery store in a car try to go walking.

Here are other ideas:

- Stand or walk while using the phone.

- Do a set of push-ups each day

- Practice a new sport

- Inscribe at the gym, commit yourself to change the sedentary behaviors.

As you increase the mobility add gradually more minutes intensity to these activities, until you recovery a balanced routine between your physical and mental status.

Fixing a sedentary lifestyle may take some effort at first, but the reward of being more physically active is worth all the benefits it brings. BTW, if you are looking to speed up the weight loss process, there is a great product reviewed on Supplemo, go check it out.