Pebble Beach, CA Get Out And Exercise, Sitting Can Reduce Your Life Expectancy

Two new studies emphasize that leading a sedentary life can result in a reduced life span and a less robust lifestyle. One study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, turned to data from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study, which is a continuous study of 12,000 adults. In 2008, the year that the researchers chose as their benchmark, adjusting for other medical factors, the scientists said that every hour of watching television reduced the viewer's life expectancy by 21.8 minutes. By comparison, smoking a single cigarette reduces the life expectancy by 11 minutes. The researchers concluded that someone who watched 6 hours a day of television lived 4.8 years less than someone who didn't watch television. These results follow a similar line as a study published in Diabetologia. The researchers cross-referenced sitting time with health outcomes and found that those with the highest sedentary behavior had a 112% increased risk of developing diabetes, a 147% increase in risk for cardiovascular disease and a 49% greater risk of dying prematurely. At Family inHome Caregiving, we have always stressed the importance of eating right, and getting exercise and social stimulation.  This news makes me want to jump off of the couch and go take a walk!