Exploring the nuance around sitting and its impact on health

Sitting itself is not inherently harmful; rather, it's the lack of physical activity combined with prolonged sitting that poses health risks. Epidemiological data shows that leisure time sitting, without being physically active, is associated with negative health outcomes. In contrast, intermittent sitting or interrupted sitting, where people frequently get up, is much healthier than uninterrupted sitting. The average hunter-gatherer sits for around 9.9 hours a day, but they are also consistently physically active, emphasizing the importance of balancing sitting and movement. The key takeaway is that while sitting is a natural part of human life, prolonged and uninterrupted sitting without physical activity can have detrimental effects on health.

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