Sitting for long periods at a computer or in front of the television is a major hazard to the heart, British researchers warn today.
Sitters face a doubled risk of developing diabetes and heart disease and dying early, according to the analysis at Leicester University, UK.
Researchers said the impact of sitting was regardless of whether people undertook regular physical activity.
They warned that many people would need to find ways of reducing the time they spend sitting. This might include working on a laptop standing up.
The research comes from an analysis of some 18 pieces of research involving nearly 800,000 people, published in the journal Diabetologia.
Researcher Dr Emma Wilmot said: "The average adult spends 50 to 70% of their time sitting so the findings of this study have far reaching implications. By simply limiting the time that we spend sitting, we may be able to reduce our risk of diabetes, heart disease and death.
"Our study also showed that the most consistent associations were between sitting and diabetes."
Fellow researcher Professor Stuart Biddle, of Loughborough University, UK, said: "There are many ways we can reduce our sitting time, such as breaking up long periods at the computer at work by placing our laptop on a filing cabinet.
"We can have standing meetings, we can walk during the lunch break, and we can look to reduce TV viewing in the evenings by seeking out less sedentary behaviours."
Diabetologia October 15 2012
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