The Harm of Sitting Constantly [Infographic]

Are you sitting down? Statistically speaking, you probably are. But that’s not necessarily a good thing. In fact, the long-term effects of prolonged sitting day-in and day-out are not good for your personal health. And although some of us who are confined to a desk job have no choice but to sit all day, there are ways you can break free from the dangers of being stuck in the chair from 9-5 and get some exercise for better back and body health.

Check out the infographic below for ways you can break out of your chair for better health, even without standing up.

I’ve had a few jobs over the years since I turned 16, and most of them required me to be on my feet for the majority of my shift, whether it was ringing people up at a cash register or stocking food, but the job that I have now has me sitting at a computer for the most part. While this might be more comfortable initially, sitting constantly can apparently have some damaging side-effects.

Today’s infographic from greenerideal.com details the potential harms in spending too much of your day sitting down. Other than the obvious (more time sitting = less time for exercise = gaining weight) sitting for prolonged periods can not only increase your risk for diabetes, but for heart disease as well.

On the positive side, if you are required to sit at your job, or say in a class, it is better to sit at a more reclined angle rather than straight up or hunched over. Also, just remember to try and be as active as you can for the environment that you’re in.

For more information on sitting vs. standing please refer to the infographic below. [Via].