Health experts warned that even though regularly exercising offers a wide range of benefits, these may not matter if one spends majority of his or her time sitting down, CBC reported.
According to a study conducted by researchers from the University of Toronto and the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, sitting down for a prolonged period of time increases the risk of dying from cancer and heart diseases.
For the study, lead-author Dr. David Alter analyzed the results of over 41 international studies regarding the physical activities and health conditions of people who exercised frequently and those who didn't.
His team discovered that the amount spent sitting down is closely linked to a premature death caused by various types of illnesses.
Based on the researchers' findings, those who spend at least half of the day sitting down or not doing physical activities have almost a hundred percent chance of developing diabetes. Their chance of dying because of heart-related illnesses is also 18 percent higher as compared to those who are more mobile, according to Time.
Alter emphasized that even though people devote an hour a day for exercise, they may still develop problems if they are sedentary for the majority of the remaining hours.
"More than half of an average person's day is spent being sedentary - sitting, watching television or working at a computer," he said in a press release. "Our study finds that despite the health-enhancing benefits of physical activity, this alone may not be enough to reduce the risk for disease."
As a simple solution, Alter suggests that aside from exercising regularly, people should stand up or walk around from time to time for a couple of minutes each day. Doing so will help burn calories at a much faster rate than sitting and can strengthen muscles and bones.
"The first step is to monitor sitting times - counting, we're more likely to change our behavior," he said. "Next is setting achievable goals and finding opportunities to incorporate greater physical activity - and less time sitting - into your daily life."
"For example, at work, stand up or move for one to three minutes every half hour," Alter added. "And when watching television, stand or exercise during commercials."
The study conducted by Alter and his team was published by the Annals of Internal Medicine, a medical journal established by the American College of Physicians.
