Sitting down ‘costing UK thousands of lives’

Thousands of UK deaths could be avoided every year if people reduce the amount of time spent sitting down, new research suggests.

More than one in ten deaths in the country were linked to prolonged sedentary behaviour in 2016, according to analysis. A total of 69,276 deaths could have been avoided in 2016 if prolonged sedentary behaviour – defined as more than six hours per day spent sitting down – was eliminated completely, the study suggests.

The researchers, from Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, said cutting time spent sitting around could also lessen the financial burden on the NHS, and said: “Measures should be taken to reduce sedentary behaviour with the aim of improving population health and reducing the burden.”