Sitting pretty fat
by Tom Ballard RN, ND
Turns out excessive sitting is not only bad for our backs but makes us fat.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine, among others, has reported that after four hours of sitting the body begins shutting down genes regulating glucose and fat. This seems to be the human equivalent of the computer’s “power down” mode. Chemical messengers send out the message to reduce energy expenditure and store fat.
Tim Armstrong, a physical-activity expert with the World Health Organization said that people who exercise every day, but spend a lot of time sitting, may not do as well as those who spread the exercise throughout the day.
A 2003-4 study found that Americans spend more than half their time sitting. This is certainly contributing to diabetes and obesity rates.
Another important lesson from these studies, in addition to “get off your … chair” is that this is another example of how genes are not “set”, as many would have us believe, but are substantially influenced by environmental factors such as time sitting.
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Filed under: Commentary, Research | Tags: exercise, fat, sitting, weight gain, weight loss
by Tom Ballard RN, ND
Turns out excessive sitting is not only bad for our backs but makes us fat.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine, among others, has reported that after four hours of sitting the body begins shutting down genes regulating glucose and fat. This seems to be the human equivalent of the computer’s “power down” mode. Chemical messengers send out the message to reduce energy expenditure and store fat.
Tim Armstrong, a physical-activity expert with the World Health Organization said that people who exercise every day, but spend a lot of time sitting, may not do as well as those who spread the exercise throughout the day.
A 2003-4 study found that Americans spend more than half their time sitting. This is certainly contributing to diabetes and obesity rates.
Another important lesson from these studies, in addition to “get off your … chair” is that this is another example of how genes are not “set”, as many would have us believe, but are substantially influenced by environmental factors such as time sitting.
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