Chair – MaryAnn MacKinnon
Member – Harpinder Sandhu

In case you haven’t heard the new buzz phrase going around health circles is
“Sitting is the new smoking.” Its odd to think one would fit with the other, but studies found sitting for long periods is quite harmful to our bodies. Studies and clinical research from Australia to the North America support the fact that sitting is failing our long term health. Sitting for 7 to 8 hours a day can shave years off your life.

We average more time sitting than sleeping, as soon as we sit:
-electrical activity in the leg muscles shuts off
-calorie burning drops to 1 per minute
-enzymes that break down fat drop 90%
And after 2 hours, good cholesterol drops 20%

As we are sitting you are using fewer muscles and your circulation slows down.
The rule studies show 20-20 for every 20 min of sitting get up and stretch for 20 seconds.
Moving around at regular intervals instead of remaining sitting can help. Try making simple changes . Switch a short meeting to a walking meeting. Stand at your desk. Take your coffee and lunch breaks away from your desk.

So get up from that desk move around and realize the benefits of moving. Its that simple.

For more information see TED Talks 2013 by Nilofer Merchant.
M/S/C