Millions told: Get off your backside to beat back pain

Millions told that sitting is bad for your health

MORE than seven million people in Britain are sitting down for nine hours a day, leading to a back pain epidemic and other illnesses.

 

Britons are sedentary for such long periods that they are adding to the likelihood of conditions such as diabetes, sciatica, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression.

About 14 per cent of those quizzed in a survey admitted they sat for most of their waking day.

 



Sitting for too long can cause serious back problems



 

This isn’t scare-mongering. It’s about being aware that you should be sitting in moderation

          Mark Critchley, chief executive at backpainhelp.com

 

A further 21 per cent confessed to sitting between seven and eight hours per day, 32 per cent between five and six hours, 26 per cent between three and four hours, while only seven per cent sat for less than two hours.

The average amount of time people sat per day was a lengthy five hours and 34 minutes.

Mark Critchley, chief executive at backpainhelp.com which carried out the study, said: “Sitting for long periods can lead to poor health and conditions such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and even cancer.

“This isn’t scare-mongering. It’s about being aware that you should be sitting in moderation.

Many stay stationary at work in their chairs

Doctors emphasise that sitting should be done in moderation

“Standing lets the blood and oxygen flow around your body better – it keeps the blood sugar regulated and your blood pressure lower.”