Youth can't be saved: sedentary lifestyles are harmful to health even for active people

A new study by the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of California at Riverside has found that even in physically active young people, this lifestyle increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and accelerates the signs of aging. The study is reported by Medicalxpress.

More than 1,000 people between the ages of 28 and 49 took part in the study. Researchers found that meeting minimum physical activity recommendations - about 20 minutes of moderate exercise a day - was not enough to neutralise the harms of prolonged sitting.

'Our findings suggest that reducing sitting time during the day, increasing the intensity of physical activity or a combination of both is necessary to reduce the risk of premature ageing at a young age,' said Professor Chandra Reynolds, senior author of the study.

Participants reported sitting for almost nine hours a day on average, with some sitting for up to 16 hours. Despite regular physical activity, prolonged sitting had a negative impact on health indicators such as cholesterol levels and body mass index.

The study found that even vigorous exercise does not fully offset the negative effects of prolonged sitting. Young people who sit for more than 8.5 hours a day and do only minimal physical activity are at increased risk for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

What to do

• Reduce sitting time: Use standing desks, take walking breaks, have meetings on the go.
• Increase exercise intensity: Aim for a minimum of 30 minutes of intense exercise per day, such as running or cycling.
• Combine approaches: A combination of reducing sedentary time and increasing physical activity yields the best results.

Now is the time to develop habits that will benefit your health in the long term," emphasises Professor Reynolds.