In our modern world, we have a multiplicity of technological gadgets, gizmos, and labour-saving devices; we no longer have to go outside and hunt for or grow our food (we can get it now without even leaving the house). As a result, many of us now spend a significant amount of our time sitting down and expending little energy, living in what has been called a ‘hypokinetic’ society (hypo=too little, kinetic=movement).

It is reported that over half of adults in the UK do not meet the physical activity guidelines set for adults, and an even smaller percentage of children reach theirs [1]. Physical inactivity is considered the fourth biggest risk factor for global mortality, accounting for 6% of deaths world-wide [2] and 37,000 premature deaths each year in the UK [3]. It has been estimated that physical inactivity causes:

• 10.5% of coronary heart disease (CHD) cases
• 18.7% of colon cancer cases
• 17.9% of breast cancer cases
• 13% of type 2 diabetes cases [4].

It has been suggested that this level of physical inactivity costs (directly and indirectly) the UK a total of £20 billion a year [5].

As a society, we are basically not active enough, putting our health at risk, and putting avoidable strain on our NHS and UK economy. It has been predicted that a reduction in inactivity of just 1% could save £1.2 billion over five years [6].

So is inactivity the same as sedentary behaviour? Sedentary behaviour is not just about being physically inactive, it also includes a cluster of individual behaviours where sitting or lying down is the dominant type of posture, and energy expenditure is very low. These behaviours may include, for example, watching TV, using a computer or tablet, travelling by car, bus or train, and sitting whilst reading, talking, working, studying or listening to music, for extended periods.

What I find particularly scary is that sedentary behaviour is independently associated with all-cause mortality, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer and metabolic dysfunction. Simply put, if you spend large amounts of time sitting or lying down, you may be at an increased risk of some negative health outcomes and chronic disease, even if you are active at the recommended levels [7].

So what can we do about it? We simply need to start moving more and break up any prolonged bouts of sitting down. For example, if on the computer all day at work, get up every so often and move around. Please take a look at the two infographic links below, they both highlight the scale of the problem and why we all need to start moving more. They can both also be accessed (with some other resources) on https://www.designedtomove.org/resources
http://e13c7a4144957cea5013-f2f5ab26d5e83af3ea377013dd602911.r77.cf5.rackcdn.com/resources/pdf/en/uk-all-party-commission-on-physical-activity-recommendations-infographic.pdf
http://e13c7a4144957cea5013-f2f5ab26d5e83af3ea377013dd602911.r77.cf5.rackcdn.com/resources/pdf/en/infographic.pdf

References:
1. All-Party Commission on Physical Activity (2014) Tackling Physical Inactivity – A Coordinated Approach. https://parliamentarycommissiononphysicalactivity.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/apcopa-final.pdf
2. Department of Health (2011) Start Active, Stay Active. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/start-active-stay-active-a-report-on-physical-activity-from-the-four-home-countries-chief-medical-officers
3. All-Party Commission on Physical Activity (2014) Tackling Physical Inactivity – A Coordinated Approach.
4. British Heart Foundation (2013) Economic Costs of Physical Inactivity http://www.bhfactive.org.uk/userfiles/Documents/eonomiccosts.pdf
5. HM Government/Mayor of London (2014) Moving More, Living More. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/279657/moving_living_more_inspired_2012.pdf
6. UK Active (2014) Turning the Tide of Inactivity http://ukactive.com/downloads/managed/Turning_the_tide_of_inactivity.pdf
7. Department of Health (2011) Start Active, Stay Active. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/start-active-stay-active-a-report-on-physical-activity-from-the-four-home-countries-chief-medical-officers