{"id":50025,"date":"2025-04-25T21:21:42","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T01:21:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/mayo-health-library\/sitting-risks-how-harmful-is-too-much-sitting\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T11:40:01","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T16:40:01","slug":"sitting-risks-how-harmful-is-too-much-sitting","status":"publish","type":"mayo","link":"https:\/\/www.hancockhealth.org\/de\/mayo-health-library\/sitting-risks-how-harmful-is-too-much-sitting\/","title":{"rendered":"Sitting risks: How harmful is too much sitting?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When you sit, you use less energy than you do when you stand or move.<\/p>\n

Many people sit for long periods of time, such as at a desk, behind a wheel or in front of a screen. Research suggests that there are health risks from too much sitting.<\/p>\n

Extended sitting has been linked to obesity. It also has been linked to a cluster of conditions that make up metabolic syndrome. These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and unhealthy cholesterol levels.<\/p>\n

Too much sitting overall also seems to raise the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.<\/p>\n

Researchers analyzed 13 studies of sitting time and activity levels among more than 1 million people. They found that people who sat for more than eight hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to the risk posed by obesity and smoking. But 60 to 75 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity a day offset the effects of too much sitting.<\/p>\n

Other studies have found that for people who are most active, sitting time has little effect on their risk of death.<\/p>\n

Overall, less sitting and more moving can aid in better health. You might start by simply taking a short break from sitting to standing every 30 minutes. Or find ways to walk while you work. Here are other suggestions:<\/p>\n