Don't be a couch potato, not even an active one.

Reference studies and articles

Read:

• Study - Too Much Sitting: The Population-Health Science of Sedentary Behavior
• Article from The New York Times - A 2-Minute Walk May Counter the Harms of Sitting

It is not just how much time we spend exercising that has an impact on our health, the amount of time we spend sitting has a big impact too.

There are many studies that suggest that independent of how much exercise one does, prolonged sitting time increases one's risk for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke, metabolic diseases such as diabetes and all cause mortality.

Notes:

• Too much sitting is distinct from too little exercise.
• Too much or prolonged sitting compromises metabolic health.
• Sedentary behaviours commonly defined as activities of 3 METs or Metabolic Equivalent.
• Activities that involves sitting such as TV viewing, computer use or sitting in cars, buses and MRTs are in the energy expenditure range of 1.0 -1.5 METs.
• Moderate to vigorous intensity physical activities ( 3-8 METs ) egs. walking, jogging, swimming and cycling.
• Most studies on physical activity and health focus largely on quantifying the amount of time spent in activities involving levels of energy expenditure of 3 METs or more, characterizing those with no participation in activies of 3 METs or more as sedentary.
• So most studies neglect the contribution to health of light intensity activities of 1.9-2.9 METs such as standing,
• Active Couch Potato - one can be physically active and still be a couch potato eg. office worker who exercise a few times a week but then sits all day at a desk andn spends several hours watching TV or at the computer in the evening.
• Active Couch Potatoes, i.e people who exercise regularly but otherwise spend significant amount of sitting, are also at higher risks of chronic diseases like heart attacks, strokes and diabetes than other similarly active people who spend less time sitting, especially prolonged sitting.

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Reference studies and articles

Read:

• Study - Too Much Sitting: The Population-Health Science of Sedentary Behavior
• Article from The New York Times - A 2-Minute Walk May Counter the Harms of Sitting