Doctors have been vocal about the harmful effects of long hours of sitting. In a post on X, Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, stated that the danger of death from sitting for more than eight hours a day without exercising is similar to that of smoking and obesity.
Taking to X, Dr Kumar wrote, “Health hazards associated with prolonged sitting are: Increased risk of diabetes, hypertension, abdominal adiposity (obesity), elevated LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, heart attack, stroke, cancer and premature death.”
Dr. Rahul Tambe, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital, agreed, stating that “sedentary behaviour” is equally harmful as smoking.
In a chat with IndiaToday.In, Dr Tambe said, “As per our clinical observation, sitting for long hours without breaks can lead to several health complications, similar to smoking. To draw a parallel, both habits increase the risk of heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, and various metabolic disorders.”
According to the expert, sitting for extended periods affects lipid profiles and glucose metabolism, which raises dangerous cholesterol levels and insulin resistance.
Dr Tambe also added, “Prolonged sitting is associated with a higher risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, a condition where blood clots form in the deep veins of the legs, which can be life-threatening if the clots travel to the lungs.”