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Habit

Sitting time

Related terms: Sitting, Sedentary behaviour, Sitting too much

SupportedGood evidence from several human studies, with details still being refined.
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Sitting or lying down for too long increases the risk of chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, even for people who exercise.

  • Nearly half (49%) of employed Australians aged 18 to 64 describe their workday as mostly sitting, according to the Better Health Channel.
  • A sedentary lifestyle is a risk factor for high blood pressure, according to healthdirect.
  • The less sitting or lying down you do during the day, the better your chances of a healthy life.

How it works

People who stand or move around during the day have a lower risk of early death than people who sit at a desk. Sitting more is linked to a higher chance of being overweight and a higher risk of anxiety and depression. Long periods of sitting can weaken and waste the large leg and buttock muscles, and shorten the hip flexor muscles, which can lead to hip problems.

Exercise does not fully cancel out long hours of sitting. The latest research suggests 60 to 75 minutes a day of moderate-intensity activity to counter the dangers of excessive sitting. Simple swaps help, such as taking the stairs, walking over to talk to colleagues, holding walking meetings, walking while on the phone and standing up during TV shows.

Connections

7 connections on the map. Select a topic to read its page.

Sitting time can cause Muscle weakness and slow recoveryMuscle weaknessand slow recoverySitting time can raise DepressionDepressionSitting time can raise Coronary heart diseaseCoronaryheart diseaseSitting time can raise High blood pressureHigh blood pressureSitting time can raise Overweight and obesityOverweightand obesitySitting time can raise Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetesSitting time is linked with Physical activityPhysical activitySitting time can cause Muscle weakness and slow recoveryMuscle weaknessand slow recoverySitting time can raise DepressionDepressionSitting time can raise Coronary heart diseaseCoronary heart diseaseSitting time can raise High blood pressureHigh blood pressureSitting time can raise Overweight and obesityOverweight and obesitySitting time can raise Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetesSitting time is linked with Physical activityPhysical activity

Sitting time can raise

Sitting time can cause

Sitting time is linked with

Sources

  1. The dangers of sittingBetter Health Channel (Victorian Government), last reviewed 4 July 2022
  2. High blood pressure (hypertension)healthdirect Australia, last reviewed November 2024

Each connection above names its own source. See every source AskBioMap uses.

Summarised from the Better Health Channel and healthdirect. Sources read on 16 and 19 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.

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