Sitting for more than six hours a day, as is required by many desk jobs, can cause serious health problems and even reduce a person’s lifespan. Several studies have linked long-term sitting with a greatly increased chance of obesity, and others have shown that prolonged sitting, especially while using a computer, can cause hypertension, tendinitis, migraines and depression.
More facts about sitting and desk jobs:
The majority of Americans spend about eight hours a day sitting at their desk jobs and another four hours sitting to watch TV or play computer games.
About 40 percent of Americans report experiencing eyestrain, and more than 45 percent report experiencing back and neck pain after using computers — much of which could be prevented by proper workspace configuration and different working habits.
A woman’s risk for metabolic syndrome, a condition characterized by belly fat gain and a precursor to diabetes, jumps by more than 25 percent for every hour per day spent sitting in front of a TV.