How Sitting Harms Your Brain and Overall Health

When we spend most of our time sitting or lying down, our leg muscles are not working. As the largest muscles in our body, they are now taking in minimal fuel from the bloodstream. These muscles then are not releasing substances that break down fatty acids in our blood.

As a result, the metabolism slows and the regulation of blood sugar is affected. These metabolic changes result in an increase in sugar and cholesterol in the bloodstream. This translates into a greater risk for diabetes and heart disease. 

Researchers at UCLA found that more time spent sitting was linked to thinning of the brain’s medial temporal lobe. This region is critical to memory formation.

The team focused on the medial temporal lobe because this area of the brain declines with age and that leads to memory impairment. 

Stand more: Researchers found that standing is associated with better insulin sensitivity.  Insulin sensitivity is directly related to a chronic health problem: diabetes. 

Because thinning in this area of the brain can be a precursor to cognitive decline and dementia in middle-aged and older adults, this preliminary study gives cause for concern.

Exercise more

The answer to changing your everyday sedentary ways in a nutshell? Little spurts of standing up, mini-workouts, and adding more movement, even through daily activities.

Move Three Minutes Every 30 minutes

• Park further away from the store entrance in the parking lot
• Take a break every commercial while watching tv
• Instead of taking the elevator to work, climb the stairs
• Stand up and do a bunch of jumping jacks
• While you’re on the phone, walk around
• Walk on your lunch break
• Clean the area around you
• Use a fitness tracker

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