By reducing the time we spend sitting for long periods and incorporating more movement into daily routines, people can significantly improve their physical and mental health.
By making fitness accessible and personalized, and by embracing simple everyday movements, we can combat the sedentary lifestyle epidemic and improve our overall quality of life.
“Sitting is the new smoking.” This phrase has gained traction over the past decade, reflecting growing awareness of the health risks associated with prolonged sitting. It has become a major topic of discussion in the realm of fitness and wellness. By reducing prolonged sitting and incorporating more movement into daily routines, people can significantly improve their physical and mental health, resulting in increased quality of life and longevity.
While this analogy compares the known dangers of smoking (such as increased risk of chronic disease and premature death) with the health risks now attributed to too much sitting, it also raises awareness about the hidden dangers of a lifestyle. sedentary lifestyle. Akshay Verma, co-founder of FITPASS, emphasizes: “It is important to understand the serious health risks that prolonged sitting can pose in today's world, where the majority of the population spends most of the day sitting, whether at desks, in cars, consuming content or on couches.”
Inactivity is a significant and growing public health problem, serving as a call to action to recognize and combat the adverse effects of a sedentary lifestyle. These effects include an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that “chronic inactivity is one of the leading causes of burnout and stress in the workplace.” This highlights the need to recognize the importance of regular movement and physical activity to prevent a multitude of health problems, improve overall well-being and improve quality of life.
“Our innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) tailors fitness plans to each individual’s needs and progress, ensuring users stay active and engaged,” says Verma. By offering personalized workout recommendations and facilitating a variety of exercise options, the fitness network helps users incorporate more movement into their daily lives. This personalized approach ensures that exercise is not a chore, but an integral and enjoyable part of their routine.
Prashant Desai, Longevity Sherpa, also sheds light on the topic: “Our fast-paced lifestyle and changing climatic conditions already challenge our health, but the sedentary nature of our work is becoming the main factor contributing to the decline in well-being. ”. Sitting for long periods of time, especially at desks, poses serious threats to our physical and mental health due to lack of movement. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted this issue, revealing that people who sit for most of the day have a 50% higher risk of death compared to those who walk for 30 minutes a day. This risk exceeds that of smoking, increasing the risk by 41%.
Modern conveniences such as indoor living, mobile devices, transportation and elevators mean that we sit approximately 80% of the day. This sedentary lifestyle has major repercussions: one in two Indians is prediabetic, diabetic or overweight. Even our pets are affected, with indoor dogs and cats becoming obese. Desai highlights: “It is alarming that the benefits of 180 minutes of exercise per week are negated if you are sitting for more than five hours a day.” However, integrating simple movements into our routines can make all the difference. Walking three minutes every hour can reduce the risk of death by 50%. Despite this, office workers take an average of fewer than 3,000 steps daily, while our ancestors took around 20,000 steps.
Incorporating short walks, opting for stairs, and adding stretching exercises to your schedule can prevent serious health problems. “Don't let the pursuit of wealth compromise your priceless health,” urges Desai.
In conclusion, recognizing the dangers of prolonged sitting and taking proactive steps to incorporate more movement into our daily lives is crucial to maintaining our health and well-being. As Verma and Desai illustrate, small changes can lead to significant improvements in our physical and mental health. By making physical activity accessible and personalized, and adopting simple, everyday movements, we can combat the sedentary lifestyle epidemic and improve our overall quality of life.
