Sitting kills you, saturated fats kill you, disposable chopsticks kills you, sugar kills you... We're so concerned about how to extend the time we have, that we're neglecting the time we actually do have.

Here's me: I haven't eaten vegetables since I was 8 years old. I sit down in front of a computer screen for multiple hours a day. I eat any junk food I want, as long as it tastes good. I drop a ton of water weight before a fight for weighing purposes. I've learned the physically straining technique, Needle through Glass (throwing a sewing needle through a pane of glass), and I do a lot of binge training.

Although I'm perfectly healthy right now, is it possible that I'll die when I'm 60? Yeah. But at least I'll have fully enjoyed my life. It beats the hell out of half living for 90 years. Not to mention, it's also possible your life will be cut short by a rampaging bus... and that has nothing to do with preventable measures.

My two cents.

I almost died of complications from blod clots in my left leg 4 1/2 years ago. I recovered OK, but I have been on the war path since then warning people about not sitting too long - both my doctor and I think that working too long at a desk without breaks caused my blood clots.

I recommend simply setting a timer for about 20 minutes as a reminder to get up and walk around for a minute or two. Also, it is probably a good idea to walk around the block (at least) a few times each work day.

Has there been any study about whether standing desks are actually any better? I can easily imagine that sitting motionless for 6 hours and standing motionless for 6 hours have virtually the same effect on the body.

That is, let's not be so quick to patch the problem with the first thing that isn't a chair.

Just bought a standing desk. I really like it. It isn't as comfortable (obviously), and my legs, feet and back are sore by the end of the day. But they're sore in a good, used way and fine by the next morning.

It definitely feels healthier then the sore back and thighs I'd get from sitting still all day.

Another interesting and related article from New York Times: "Stand Up While You Read This" - http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/stand-up-whi...

As a marketer, I love this study because it's a variation on the "Make people think they are thinking and they love you. Make them think and they'll hate you." concept.

You're working hard. On your feet all day but this study proves that you're going to outlive those people at corporate who are sitting at a desk all day. You're better than them.

I can think of a lot of great products to market with this study like beer or DIY stuff. Here in the US, I would not be surprised to see this study touted by politicians looking for working class votes.

Make people think they are exercising more than others and they'll love you. Make them exercise more and they'll hate you.

I like using an exercise ball as my computer desk chair. That helps me move around more as I'm at the computer. But there is no substitute for getting outside and taking a walk, which I think I will do just now on one of our first really pleasant, rain-free days of this year.

If you decide to get an exercise ball as a chair substitute, the advice I have received from a YMCA trainer is to size it so that your hips are higher than your knees when you sit on it. For a lot of men of near-average height, a 65cm ball will do. The size can be adjusted up or down a little by how much you inflate the ball.

Correlation does not imply causation.

Kelly Starrett did a talk at Google recently on (roughly) this subject: http://www.mobilitywod.com/2011/06/episode-276365-mobilitywo...

He's got a PhD in Physical Therapy, so I'd rather listen to what he has to say about being healthy behind a desk than a story with a sensationalist headline.

I've been wanting to install an adjustable height desk at home to do just this. The problem is I can't find one for less than $600-800. I'm comfortable putting something together myself, but am not sure where to start. I'm open to any suggestions that would get me to a large sit/stand adjustable desk in the $200-400 range.

I just put my chair on top of my desk while reading the post; my laptop is now on it. Ghetto standing desk for the win.

I have a hack against sitting: have always a glass of water on your table and drink from it permanently, this way you always need to go to refill the glass and go to rest room to eliminate that water. So you wont be sitting more than 3 hours (usually you'll stand up at least each hour)

Sitting is insidious in its comfortableness.

Sitting for hours definitely contributed to my tight, tight hamstrings, and I am paying the price for them right now. I have a bulging disc that is most definitely the result of my tightness. I can barely lift any weight anymore, I can't partake in my favorite activities, even sex has become a chore. It's had a massively negative impact on my enjoyment of life in general.

I have a standing desk now, and I am spending lots of my time and money doing physical therapy and related exercises.

To my desk-bound friends who still have good backs: take frequent breaks and stretch those hammies!

Does sitting on an exercise ball have the same deadly effects?

This may be a stupid idea, but here's the trick I use to force myself to not sit down for too long:

I drink a ton of water, and I mean a ton. I drink so much that I HAVE to get up every hour (at least) to use the restroom. Usually that's closer to 45 minutes. I know drinking too much water isn't healthy either, but I think I am at a nice balance of hydration.

Does anyone else do this?

> Sitting for several hours each day is bad for you, like smoking is bad for you, regardless of whether you do healthful activities, too.

I'm looking forward to the EU-directive that will ban chairs in bars and restaurants, the same as they did with smoking.

Any word on how different sitting positions affect these results? I imagine that kneeling (or worse, in Tate-hiza, kneeling with one knee raised and a foot up your arse) would use more muscles than just sitting on your bum all day long?

So if I read the first few paragraphs correctly, Sitting in a chair all day gives men an 80% chance not to get cancer. Sounds pretty sweet to me.

Oddly enough, it hasn't seemed to effect the life expectancy of Buddhist monks...

Being mildly hyperactive has many hidden benefits :)

undefined

bummer... I can feel my golden years slipping away

I'm always Devil's advocate. ("I say: lettem crash!")

My life expectancy without the sitting is about 80. So this is a good thing. 65 years is enough for me.

Did anyone else notice that the directors name for the call center is 'Gaylord'?