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Sitting for Long Periods Affects Mental Health

| June 19, 2015 Comment

Sitting for Long Periods Affects Mental Health – There have been several studies linking sitting to various diseases such as heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis. Now a new study shows that it can also increase anxiety.

Researchers from the Deakin University’s Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research in Australia, reviewed 9 previous studies on sedentary behavior and anxiety levels. In particular, they looked at behaviors like working at a computer, watching TV, and playing video games. Two of the studies involved children and adolescents while the remaining involved adults. Five of the 9 studies found that increased sedentary behavior increased anxiety. While 4 of the studies showed a connection between total sitting time and anxiety, the connection between anxiety and time spent looking at TV and computer screens was not as strong.

The studies also showed that anxiety levels depended on what the participants were doing. For instance, many studies found that time spent sitting during a commute increased anxiety, but sitting for work or leisure did not do so. Though the studies did not show why sitting increased anxiety, researchers theorize that sedentary behavior disturbs sleep patterns, affects metabolic health, and causes social withdrawal, and this may increase anxiety.

The study was published in the journal BMC Public Health.

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