How Not to Die in One’s Seat by Brian Simpson

There is considerable scientific evidence which indicates that the more time spent seated, the greater the risk of death from all causes. Sitting can literally kill us. This is obviously not good news for most of us, who even if we don’t watch TV or play computer games, still must spend a large part of the day seated.

However, a recent study in The Lancet, by U. Ekelund (et al.), “Does physical activity attenuate, or even eliminate, the detrimental association of sitting time with mortality? A harmonised meta-analysis of data from more than 1 million men and women,” (2016), offers us hope. It was found, contrary to some previous research, that 60-75 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as walking the dog, is enough to counteract the ill-effects of a desk job, even with 8 hours seated. Even 25 minutes’ exercise is of some help.

It is a comment on modern existence, that man has been reduced to being a cream puff, and that the body and physical excellence, takes second place, to commerce and the making of money.