Middle-aged men sit more than over-75s

MIDDLE-AGED MALE office workers spend more time sitting down than pensioners – with large parts of the population “dangerously sedentary”, according to new research.

The Edinburgh University study found 45 to 54-year-old men spend on average 7.8 hours per weekday sitting down, compared to 7.4 hours for men aged over 75.

Sedentary work is the main reason for the inactivity, with sedentary time (ST) defined as time spent in any waking activity done while sitting or reclined, including working, eating, reading, watching TV or spending time on a computer.

Women in all age groups spend less time sitting than the over75s, who spend an average 7.4 hours seated each day.

Lead researcher Tessa Strain said: “Large parts of the population are dangerously sedentary, something we have underestimated. We need to tackle high levels of sedentary time in early and middle age, when patterns may develop.

“Our findings suggest that changing habits in the workplace could be an appropriate place to start, given how much time we spend sitting there every day.”

Experts say high levels of sedentary time – more than seven hours a day – increases the risk of an early death, cardiovascular disease, type two diabetes and some cancers, even if people are physically active at other times of the day.

Among men, only the youngest group surveyed – 16 to 24-yearolds – are significantly less sedentary than the over-75s on weekdays, spending 6.6 hours a day sitting down.

The findings are published today in the