Do you spend too much time sitting or have a prolonged time of inactivity in your daily schedule? Then you are living a sedentary life.
Watching more than 4 hours of TV, scrolling through social media, surfing online for an extended period of time, playing video games, taking less than 5k steps in a day, etc., constitute a sedentary lifestyle.
A sedentary lifestyle brings serious long-term impacts on health, including physical and mental. Let's have a look at the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle.
Obesity: A sedentary life means a life with less movement, hence less calories burned which leads to weight gain and obesity.
Heart disease: Lack of movement also results in heart diseases where the flow of oxygen to the heart is significantly reduced.
Diabetes: Insulin helps the body to use sugar as energy when needed. However, an extended sedentary lifestyle makes changes in the body, causing insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes.
Certain types of cancer: Lack of inactivity also causes various types of cancer including ovarian, endometrial and others.
High blood pressure (hypertension): High blood pressure occurs when blood pushes into your body too strongly, causing your heart to overwork. An overworking heart leads to weakened blood vessels.
Stress, anxiety and depression: When engaged in physical work, our brain releases serotonin, the mood-boosting chemical present in the brain. However, less activity causes less serotonin secretion, leading to less positive feelings and motivation.
Bringing more movements into your daily schedule with a proper diet plan may help you overcome the health consequences of a sedentary lifestyle.