Go ahead, sit down and get comfortable.
A new study challenges previous claims that sitting for long periods of time increases the risk of early death, even in physically active people.
The new research found that there was no association with sitting for long periods of time and an increased risk of dying, according to Science Daily.
The University of Exeter and University College London conducted the study, which was published in the International Journal of Epidemiology. Researchers followed over 5,000 participants for 16 years, and found that sitting for long periods, whether at work or at home, did not increase the risk of dying.
Total sitting time and types of sitting were all taken into consideration for the study, as well as the health status of the participants.
Researchers recommend that encouraging people to be more active is still a public health priority, but the dangers of sitting cited in previous studies may have been overblown.
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