I.M.120 Helping you to BE YOUR BEST SELF

Every now and then millions of dollars are spent and numerous studies are done to validate intuitive knowledge. So it comes to us from the "Annals of Internal Medicine" that sitting around all day long is bad for you. In fact, it will shorten your lifespan.

This is not exactly earth shattering news. Do we really need studies to tell us that watching TV six hours a day is bad? Or that sitting in front of a computer screen for eight hours a day without any significant movement may cause harm?  While this element of knowledge may be intuitive, what was most interesting in the studies is the fact that exercise does not eliminate the hazard caused by prolonged sitting.  An executive who sits eight hours a day then does power yoga for one hour still is at increased risk of early death when compared to a hustling waitress who never goes to the gym. Movement is good. Sitting is bad. Exercise does not trump regular movement. Put this all together and hopefully it will motivate a change in behavior. Good health doesn't come just from sweating, but rather from movement itself. Movement does not have to include sweating, breathing heavy or even a change of clothing.  It simply needs to be performed. Small things like standing up and stretching every few minutes, moving your legs while sitting, all seem to matter.

Forced sedentary behavior is most toxic in those greater than 50 years old. A long plane flight, long car ride, or any large chunk of forced sitting may be uncomfortable for the young, but is a potentially fatal event for the old. Heart attacks, strokes and blood clots or more likely to occur in the aftermath of such events.

So tap your feet, stand and stretch, take a walk about the office, step outside to get some fresh air. Create a new routine that involves movement.

Either that, or quit your day job and become a lumberjack. If you don't live longer, it will certainly FEEL longer.

Helping you craft a life that will keep you healthy for 100 years.

- Dr. Steve Petteruti