A sedentary lifestyle is a type of lifestyle with little or no physical activity. Most people that live a sedentary lifestyle don’t realize it. They go to work everyday, they take care of their families and walk. That why I thought it was important to give you my 7 Warning signs to help you determine if you have a sedentary lifestyle also known as a Couch Potato.
People who engage in more physical activity are less likely to develop coronary heart disease. People who are more active are less likely to be overweight or obese. Sitting too much may cause a decrease in skeletal muscle mass. Physical inactivity is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated cholesterol levels.
Chances are you're reading this blog while you are sitting in a chair. And, if you're like most computer users, you've been there for a while!
- You sit at work close to 7 hours a day
- If you drive for a living
- You binge watch TV. (which is 2 or more hours an evening)
- When you drive anywhere you park close to the entrance
- You say to yourself you really need to be more active
- You snack when you sit
- You workout less than 3 times a week
Consider how much you sit in a day: driving during your morning commute to an 8-hour-a-day desk job, and then unwinding on the couch in front of the television all evening. What’s more, do you depend on email, cell phone apps, direct-deposit paychecks, and online shopping to accomplish tasks that 10 or 20 years ago would have required you to get up and run errands?
If so, then you may have "sitting disease,” a catchy phrase for a sedentary lifestyle that might be putting your health at risk.
The Price of Sitting Too Much
A growing body of research shows that long periods of physical inactivity increase your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. In January 2010, British experts linked prolonged periods of sitting to a greater likelihood of disease. And that same month, Australian researchers reported that each hour spent watching TV is linked to an 18% increase in the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease -- because that time is spent sitting down.
My friends at Planet Fitness have teamed up with us to provide one lucky couch potato with a free membership. Do you think you might be a couch potato? Thinking about embracing a new personalized fitness path? Register with Dr. Fitness Text your name and email to 904.236.5858.