Are You Sitting Your Life Away? It’s Time to Experience the Benefits of Walking!

The evidence is in! Sitting down for long periods of time is not good for us. Many previous studies have shown that a lack of regular physical activity in old age can significantly increase our chances of developing heart disease, osteoporosis and other chronic illnesses. Of course, as we age, we tend to move less, sometimes due to injury or illness. But, this can’t be the whole story.

In fact, a new research study from the Harvard School of Public Health reveals that older women may spend 65.5% of their waking time sedentary, which is the equivalent of 9.7 hours each day. When it comes to sitting still, it’s easy to get stuck in a vicious cycle. The less we move, the harder it is to move, and so on.

All older women should be interested in this research because staying active is a key contributor to living a longer, healthier life. Other research has shown the potential relationship between extended sitting and cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and cancer. Our bodies and brains were meant to be active!

Since I work at a computer 14 hours a day, I am definitely helping to move this statistic in the wrong direction. I know that sitting for this long is not good for my back. I also know that it affects my breathing and vision. One trick that my daughter-in-law mentioned that I may give a try is setting a timer to go off every couple of hours. When the buzzer sounds, I know that it’s time to take a 15 minute walk. It’s not much. But, it’s a start. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think it’s time to step away from my computer and get outside!

Do you sit more than 8 hours a day? Do you think this is something that needs to be addressed in your lifestyle? Please join the discussion.

Get on the path to a more active life with these healthy lifestyle tips for older women.