Sitting for more hours spoils your health, study revealed

Avoid low energy activities like watching TV, working at computer or playing electronic games for more hours along with prolonged sitting, as it may increase the risk of anxiety and depression.

“Our research showed that evidence is available to suggest a positive association between sitting time and anxiety symptoms - however, the direction of this relationship still needs to be determined through longitudinal and interventional studies,” said lead researcher Megan Teychenne, lecturer at Deakin University’s Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research (C-PAN) in Australia.

Researchers analysed the results of nine studies that specifically examined the association between sedentary behaviour and anxiety. It was found in five of the nine studies that an increase in sedentary behaviour was associated with an increased risk of anxiety. In four of the studies it was found that total sitting time was associated with increased risk of anxiety.

The evidence about watching TV and using computer was less strong but one study found that 36% of high school students that had more than two hours of screen time were more like to experience anxiety compared to those who had less than two hours. The researchers found that, link between sedentary behaviour and anxiety could be due to disturbances in sleep patterns, social withdrawal and poor metabolic health.

By Lizitha