Couch Potatoes, Get Moving: Sitting Increases Disability Risk in Elderly

A recent study shows just how important movement is for your overall health, particularly during your later years in life.

According to researchers at Northwestern University, they found that every hour a day people spend sitting actually doubles their risk of becoming disabled.

As disability is defined as being unable to participate in basic activities ranging from dressing or bathing oneself, to eating or walking, researchers note that this is the first study to show how significant a risk factor disability is independent of lack of physical activity.

For the study, researchers examined 2,286 adults aged 60 and older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. They then compared individuals with similar health backgrounds and relatively the same amount of moderate vigorous activity. All of the participants were asked to wear accelerometers from 2002 to 2005 in order to measure sedentary time versus moderate vigorous physical activity.

"This is the first time we've shown sedentary behavior was related to increased disability regardless of the amount of moderate exercise," lead researcher Dorothy Dunlop, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, via a press release. "Being sedentary is not just a synonym for inadequate physical activity."

Researchers said they were particularly surprised to discover that being sedentary carried almost as heavy a risk factor for disability as lack of moderate physical activity.

"It means older adults need to reduce the amount of time they spend sitting, whether in front of the TV or at the computer, regardless of their participation in moderate or vigorous activity," Dunlop said.

Fortunately, researchers note that little movements can help with this issue. For instance, some officials suggests standing while talking on the phone or simply parking farther away from the entrance of a store and walking more.

What do you think?

More information regarding the study can be found via the Journal of Physical Activity & Health.