A One-Minute Explanation Of Why Sitting Is Bad For Your Health

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Luke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia

You’ve probably heard by now that sitting is bad for you, but do you know why? Take 60 seconds and let this beautiful animation tell you why it’s so bad.

If you’ve been sitting down all day, you might want to get up and move around a bit. Sitting for around 11 hours per day can increase the risk of early death by 40 per cent compared to those who sit four hours per day or less.

When you sit down, your body dramatically slows down its ability to burn fat, your insulin levels drop and your blood pressure shoots up. You’re more likely to get blood clots in your brain by sitting for extended periods of time, and you’re also twice as likely to get heart disease too.

Moral of the story? Get up and go for a walk!

Aussie animator, Duncan Elms, is back with his beautiful videos. This one appeared on a recent episode of 60 Minutes. You can check out his one about the Deep Web or his one about Bitcointoo!

Republished from our cousins at Gizmodo Australia. Check it out for all of your other-side-of-the-equator tech news.

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ECAsh
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ECAshLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 12:41am
Love the Video...BUT.,.

Where is the Video of standing on HARD SURFACE for more then 5 years???

HOw much of your life is On Concrete, asphalt, and other surface that are HARD on joints, hips, Ankles, and cause anything from Arthritis, Gout, and damaged Bones and tissues??

There is NO animal can can live, or has LIVED on a hard rock surface...

7 Reply
- Norbs
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  NorbsECAsh
  5/12/15 1:35am
  
  49 Reply
- Unorthodox
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  UnorthodoxNorbs
  5/12/15 2:11am
  
  21 Reply
- gizmoFan
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  gizmoFanNorbs
  5/12/15 2:20am
  
  These fuckin’ goats man. How do they work?
  
  22 Reply
- orcim
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  orcimgizmoFan
  5/12/15 3:21am
  
  Great pic. You need to find a goat herder and offer to trim their hooves sometime. The things are like the most amazing climbing shoe over built. Hard outer shell for edging on tiny nubbins you couldn’t possibly smear or stick to, while the whole center is a calloused firm marshmallow that can smear a smooth bit of rock maximizing the friction when there’s no nubbins.
  
  Amazing, really.
  
  2 Reply
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spiderseverywhere
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spiderseverywhereLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 12:59am
I wonder how many of these anti-sitting people stand up while driving.

2 Reply
- catalysto
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  catalystospiderseverywhere
  5/12/15 3:41am
  
  If you’re regularly spending more than 30 minutes at a time driving, you’re doing it wrong.
  
  1 Reply
- espurious
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  espuriouscatalysto
  5/12/15 5:25am
  
  Unless your commute is more than half an hour.
  
  12 Reply
- What? Me Worry?
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  What? Me Worry?espurious
  5/12/15 7:00am
  
  If your commute is more than half an hour, you’re doing it wrong.
  
  ...says someone who rides 2+ hours on a train every day :-(
  
  6 Reply
- ScreennameII
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  ScreennameIIcatalysto
  5/12/15 9:59am
  
  You’re wrong. If you love your car, and I do, 30 minutes of driving is just a warm up.
  
  5 Reply
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gizmodo21
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gizmodo21Luke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 8:30am
Uhhh...

I have a hard time believing that sitting is bad for you. We evolved from primates and they sit all day. So somehow something that our ancestors have been doing for millions of years is suddenly bad for you?

I have the same doubts that being in the sun is bad for you too and causes you to die earlier. Really? Evolution has been occurring for billions of years and suddenly we can’t tolerate the sun.

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- Flaeor
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  Flaeorgizmodo21
  5/12/15 8:38am
  
  As for the sun, I think it’s because we messed up the atmosphere, and most animals have hair or fur all over their bodies. We don’t.
  
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- gizmodo21
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  gizmodo21Flaeor
  5/12/15 9:04am
  
  I just feel like there are other explanations. For example, sitting may be bad for you...perhaps sitting is bad for you because those who sit 11 hours also aren’t exercising enough. It’s tough to exercise in front of a desk at work and all the so called symptoms such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease are also issues related to not exercising regularly. So it’s not sitting itself that’s the issue, it’s not working out enough. I doubt standing in place will fix the problem either.
  
  The issue with the sun could just be Vitamin D deficiency or something.
  
  6 Reply
- Slavi Traykov
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  Slavi Traykovgizmodo21
  5/12/15 9:32am
  
  Probable realised by some old scientist who was suppose to “discover” something just to get paid for this “discovery. Therefore: sitting is bad for you.
  
  1 Reply
- greencow
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  greencowgizmodo21
  5/12/15 9:41am
  
  Since when have you seen a primate “sit all day”? They crouch, they squat, they occasionally sit, but they’re never in one place for very long. Sitting on your ass for hours at a time is not what are bodies are made to do.
  
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fangbanger
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fangbangerLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 12:20am
That sounds scary and convincing enough. I’ve been using a standing desk for more than a month now, and I finally find sitting uncomfortable. Can’t go back. Let’s hope it’s not too late...

However I find just standing bad for the legs and knees, moving is very important but I don’t know how to achieve that yet while working on the computer. I can’t get a treadmill since it’s an office.

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- Dranzerk
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  Dranzerkfangbanger
  5/12/15 12:23am
  
  Trying working on feet 9 hours a day, then you realize how tiring standing is.
  
  6 Reply
- jgrnt
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  jgrntfangbanger
  5/12/15 12:44am
  
  Why can’t you put a treadmill with your standing desk? They’re quiet and don’t take up much more space than an office chair.
  
  1 Reply
- Zelda did it!
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  Zelda did it!fangbanger
  5/12/15 6:32am
  
  “I can’t get a treadmill since it’s an office”
  
  Don’t let the office take you down boy!
  
  1 Reply
- greencow
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  greencowDranzerk
  5/12/15 9:43am
  
  I was a baker for around 6 years, transitioned to an outdoor job after that for around 3, and now I work in an office, sitting on my ass. My flat feet thank me, as do my ankles, but overall, my body and my health isn’t what it was when I worked the other jobs, moving around and standing all day. I’m still in good shape, but I don’t feel as good as I did after moving and being on my feet.
  
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synthozoic
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synthozoicLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 2:28am
Take frequent breaks and stretch at work, get a lot of walking in. I get it.

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- goldendarko
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  goldendarkosynthozoic
  5/12/15 5:19am
  
  That’s good and all, but what about people who are tied to their desks? I regularly work 12 hour days and as a Yardmaster for the railroad i am responsible for answering the radios and phones at all times during my shift. How am I supposed to just get up and walk around?
  
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- synthozoic
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  synthozoicgoldendarko
  5/12/15 10:08am
  
  You need a standing desk with a high chair so you can stand and sit at the desk. Sort of what this gal is working at. Or maybe a desk with a built in treadmill that routes all your expended walking energy into a battery for company use.
  
  Reply
- AdvertiseSpam
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  AdvertiseSpamsynthozoic
  5/12/15 11:27am
  
  I have had the Locus leaning seat for a while and love it. I use it with my own motorized standing desk (not the desk that Focal Upright sells separately). Not even bragging, but I seriously do not sit at all when I work anymore. I thought I would switch back and forth between standing, leaning, and sitting, but it turns out I am perfectly happy leaning 97% of the time and standing on occasion. And this is for 6-8 hours a day.
  
  http://www.focaluprightfurniture.com/focal-standing...
  
  Reply
- synthozoic
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  synthozoicAdvertiseSpam
  5/12/15 11:29am
  
  I think the main thing is that a desk needs to be tall enough and chairs need to be high enough that they can alternate between sitting and standing without breaking their work flow.
  
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zombiebreath77
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zombiebreath77Luke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 12:24am
The next logical step would be to lay down while I work now.

5 Reply
- Flaeor
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  Flaeorzombiebreath77
  5/12/15 8:38am
  
  This was my question. Most of the things in the video - do they happen while lying down, too?
  
  3 Reply
- zombiebreath77
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  zombiebreath77Flaeor
  5/12/15 12:08pm
  
  I'm gonna guess that it makes it worse? Except for the back problems maybe, but we sleep for 8 hours or so so how bad is that right? I dunno I should've gone to college... Lol
  
  Reply
- drivetrain3000
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  drivetrain3000zombiebreath77
  5/12/15 12:41pm
  
  Oh crap, all those porn stars lying down on the job 8 hours a day are in jeopardy. They need to do their job standing up more often, or on a treadmill. Oh wait, I guess they already have that covered, I didn’t click on the fetishes links of YouPorn.
  
  1 Reply
- zombiebreath77
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  zombiebreath77drivetrain3000
  5/12/15 1:07pm
  
  Well I hope the treadmill isn't on while they are....uh...working. Haha
  
  Reply
Zelda did it!
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Zelda did it!Luke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 6:30am
Can these effects be canceled out by training X minutes a day? Say I sit 9+ hours, will an hour of training cancel out (some of the) bad effects?

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- jonnysodoff
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  jonnysodoffZelda did it!
  5/12/15 12:01pm
  
  It’s about the consecutive hours spent sitting. Doing exercise later won’t fix it. I mean, it helps but... Stand up every hour or so and wiggle around/stretch for a couple minutes. Go grab a drink, use the restroom, etc.
  
  Reply
- Zelda did it!
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  Zelda did it!jonnysodoff
  5/13/15 3:26am
  
  Thanks! Luckily I drink so much water that I actually get to stand up at least once every 1.5 hours. In between, I talk with colleagues, make some coffee and sometimes raise my desk so I can stand.
  
  I think I’m okay :D
  
  Reply
This guy here says
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This guy here saysLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 3:28am
Scientists Discover Most Deadly Condition Know to Man — Existing

New study finds mortality rate, of those who have existed, to be 100%. Senator Lex Luthor vows to spend whatever it takes to fight this threat.

19 Reply
diasdiem
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diasdiemLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 12:54am
Sit, stand, use an exercise ball for a chair, you’re still gonna die.

8 Reply
ChurroTom
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ChurroTomLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 12:18am
Now I’m going to spend all day tomorrow standing up at my desk. sigh...

3 Reply
Splatworthy
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SplatworthyLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 8:46am
This is just so clearly nonsense I don’t feel I have to provide any proof to back up my claims. Standing for long periods of time is worse for you than sitting, increasing risks of DVT, vericose veins, back, knee, and neck pain. Elite athletes train by exerting themselves for a relatively short period of time, and then spend a much longer time ensuring that their bodies get enough nutrition and rest to recover. You do not need to be exercising 14 hours a day everyday to improve your physical conditioning, let alone maintain it. At the very elite level, including marathoners and cyclists, they pretty much do everything in their power to ensure they are not over exerting themselves outside of training, which means a lot of sitting around. Claiming that sitting is bad for your health is just obviously silly.

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UnitDosed
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UnitDosedLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 7:41am
A coworker on my team has an under the desk mini pedaling machine thingy... Does that countreact the cons of sitting?

1 Reply
- JcanRacer
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  JcanRacerUnitDosed
  5/12/15 6:02pm
  
  should keep the blood flowing at least, maybe counteract the blood pressure and obesity concerns. Might not help the strain on back and neck though.
  
  Reply
Cesar
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CesarLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 11:05am
Lol. I like how they don’t give any explanation as to why these things happen. Then at the very end they casually throw in the word “sedentary”. Does standing not put pressure on your spine? I mean if you’re not moving for 11 hours a day that’s very unhealthy, but it’s not due to simply sitting. I’m sure those people they tested also have a terrible diet and don’t exercise.

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Youhao Huo Mao
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Youhao Huo MaoLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 9:08am
How very helpful.

I mean those of us with eight hour workday desk jobs surely need this information. Wow, we’re killing ourselves by having a job. Well I might as well quit and get a job outdoors where I’m moving around all the time. Or a job at a cash register standing for eight hours.

What can we do to help? That’s the important part of this.

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corduroyCHUCK
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corduroyCHUCKLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 12:30am
i’m in a wheelchair. all i heard while watching this video was an australian guy saying “you’re screwed you’re screwed you’re screwed ps: you’re screwed haha”

11 Reply
E36TitanM3
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E36TitanM3Luke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 10:06am
Uh yea I sit most of the day. Getting up to go walk around isn’t always an option. I exercise an hour every day after work so I like to think I am doing some good. However I suspect those that are sitting 11 hours a day are doing very little exercising.

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dumbgreek
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dumbgreekLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 9:39am
I work in IT, have a 2.5 hour commute (one-way, unless I have to go into DC, then double that) and tend to play video games when I’m not at work. Soooo . . . I should expect to be dead at 37?

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BRUXXUS
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BRUXXUSLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 12:21am
I’m so dead...

I need to finish my project of adding linear actuators to my desk so I can stand. After many years of working retail, I’ve actually kinda missed standing while at a computer.

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ScreennameII
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ScreennameIILuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 11:06am
Don’t run when you can walk.
Don’t walk when you can stand.
Don’t stand when you can sit.
Don’t sit when you can lie down.
Don’t stay awake when you can sleep.

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gizmodo21
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gizmodo21Luke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/13/15 9:41am
If sitting is bad for you, so is lying down. And we do that for 8 hours a day when sleeping.

We should advocate standing while sleeping from now on.

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This guy here says
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This guy here saysLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 3:31am
Ironically, sitting for 13 hours and 27 minutes has been found cure the cancer from the previous 11 hours.

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Shane Broussard
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Shane BroussardLuke Hopewell - Gizmodo Australia
5/12/15 8:47am
“Sitting is bad for you”. This is just plain stupid. Gizmodo, seriously?

1 Reply

Midtown Blogger/Manhattan Valley Follies

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