Sitting is killing us. It’s time to take a stand

Did you know Canadian adults are sedentary for about 9.5 hours a day? This time can largely be attributed to  desk jobs and the amount of time we spend in our cars. It also stems from the time we spend seated on breaks, at meetings, at lunch, and on the couch with the remote in hand.

Research confirms that a sedentary lifestyle poses a major health risk – and it’s NOT one offset by daily trips to the gym. While a commitment to exercising regularly does offer health benefits, it does not counter the negative effects of sitting the rest of the day. In fact, some research suggests we’d be better off participating in several mini workouts throughout the day as opposed to one longer one.

A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, elevated cholesterol , some forms of cancer, and many more chronic conditions and diseases. There’s also evidence to suggest a sedentary lifestyle may significantly increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

Working closely with many health and medical professionals in Canada as I do, they frequently share with me that so many of the patient complaints and conditions they see, could be eliminated, helped, or better managed with increased exercise. Some prescribe exercise to their patients. All believe exercise is powerful medicine.

Just as I’m saddened to see kids chained to their desks at school, I’m equally disturbed when I hear from employees trapped in a workplace that doesn’t value and strive to optimize employee physical and mental health.  Happily, the new Walk@Work Program I launched with Urban Poling is designed to help employers invest in the wellness of those they hire. Read more about this new program or contact us at info@urbanpoling.com for more information.

Having led fitness classes for over 27 years and with a personal training background too, I often tell people to forget about what could have been or should have been and to focus on what will be. It’s never too late to become more active and every step we take has benefits.

Today’s a perfect day to turn over a new leaf, to make a fresh start, or to encourage someone else to do the same.