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We know that sitting is bad for us. Previous research has suggested a link between time spent sitting every day and health problems and even early death. Now, an observational study published online September 12, 2017, by History of Internal Medicine suggests that it also matters what number of minutes you spend sitting in an office chair or on the couch at a time. Researchers checked out the health and activity of nearly 8,000 men and girls (aged 45 and older) who wore activity trackers for one week, after which followed the participants for 4 years. Sitting for 30, 60, or 90 minutes at a time was related to the best risk of death if sitting time was greater than 12 or 13 hours per day. Sitting for lower than half-hour at a time was related to a lower risk of death throughout the follow-up period, no matter the whole amount of inactivity for that day. But the study authors indicate that a sedentary lifestyle is dangerous irrespective of how much time you spend sitting. The takeaway: The study authors say their findings support guidelines that recommend all of us stand up and move every half-hour.
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