Posted on 02/22/2014 6:33:22 AM PST by daniel1212
If you're 60 and older, every additional hour a day you spend sitting is linked to doubling the risk of being disabled -- regardless of how much moderate exercise you get, reports a new Northwestern Medicine® study.
The study is the first to show sedentary behavior is its own risk factor for disability, separate from lack of moderate vigorous physical activity. In fact, sedentary behavior is almost as strong a risk factor for disability as lack of moderate exercise.
If there are two 65-year-old women, one sedentary for 12 hours a day and another sedentary for 13 hours a day, the second one is 50 percent more likely to be disabled, the study found.
"This is the first time we've shown sedentary behavior was related to increased disability regardless of the amount of moderate exercise," said Dorothy Dunlop, professor of medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and lead author of the study. "Being sedentary is not just a synonym for inadequate physical activity."
Disability affects more than 56 million Americans. It's defined by limitations in being able to do basic activities such as eating, dressing or bathing oneself, getting in and out of bed and walking across a room. Disability increases the risk of hospitalization and institutionalization and is a leading source of health care costs, accounting for $1 in $4 spent.
The study will be published February 19 in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health.
The finding -- that being sedentary was almost as strong a risk factor for disability as lack of moderate vigorous activity -- surprised Dunlop.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
“Too Much Sitting May Be Bad for Your Health”
This is why I lie down all the time. :)
That is to say, sedentary behavior in older persons may not, in itself, give rise to a greater risk of long-term "disability."
I think this study is suspect, as while more physical activity, including the kind that works up sweat, is much needed in American, the correlation btwn reduced life expectancy and much sedentary behavior can be explained by the amount of the latter being the result of poor health to begin with, not necessarily its actual cause. But just being a TV couch potato will work toward disability.
I think a person in good health will have a harder time sitting for a few hours even typing at a computer without getting up and moving around, than one in poor health.
May the Lord grant us good heath in spirit, souls and body thru the Lord Jesus.
That's interesting. The main difference between your findings and those of the study is that some prof got a government grant, and you did not.
Oh, and the other difference is that you are probably correct, while the study funded by grant is not.
Now why didn't they think of that?!
While you were thinking and typing this, so was I! See below.
It may next be linked to Global Warming.
So many studies confuse correlation with causation. Can this one be trusted? After all, those more likely to be disabled are also more likely to avoid moving around...because it causes pain.
The causality question always occurs to me. Do people already on the downhill slope toward disability generally sit more or does sitting more lead to disability?
Maybe Michelle will move away from the kids’ issues and take up a seniors’ issue with a new “Let’s Move! Granny and Gramps” campaign ;-)
(I know - don’t give her any ideas)
I’m a trend setter. :)
what do they mean by disabled? if this were the case—the more sedentary you are, the more likely you are to be disabled after the age of 60, regardless of amount of exercise (or moderate exercise?)—it seems we would have more disabled people over the age of 60...
See above posts on the percentage of FReepers who quickly perceived the questionable nature of this conclusion. Maybe they should do a study on FReepers.
Also, since 13 sedentary hours a day means you are 50 percent more likely to be disabled than one who sits for 12 hours a day, then what does this mean the latter are 50% more likely to be disabled than one who sits for 11 hours a day?
Exactly, I know lots of sedentary 60+ who are also quite active when they’re not freeping.... ;-)
Usually the study will accurately describe the results as a correlation but a reporter will report it as causation.
This article seems to suggest that surfing the internet parked in a Laz-E-Boy, while watching TV for 6-8 hours straight is a bad thing.
But that can’t be right.
How many were exercise nut boomers, who destroyed their knees and hips trying to look like they were 20 when they were over 40.
Sitting around and not walking is not good for us.
Trying to do exercises that were hard on anyone under 30 when we are over 30 is a recipe for disaster. Most of the knee and/or hip replacement people we know, did their knees and hips in trying to run on pavement for decades.
We are seeing a trend of people with back surgeries, who were addicted to hard workouts in gyms.
Your DNA and moderation is the key to a better life as a senior.
Excellent observation: “Also, since 13 sedentary hours a day means you are 50 percent more likely to be disabled than one who sits for 12 hours a day, then what does this mean the latter are 50% more likely to be disabled than one who sits for 11 hours a day?”
I would bet that those sit for 12 hours a day and were in better health might have walked for an hour a day at a time or two 30 minute walks per day.
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