Sitting Disease Statistics

There’s no escaping it. Chronic pain due to postural imbalance, repetitive-use injuries, and a sedentary lifestyle (a.k.a sitting disease statistics) is one of the most costly and debilitating challenges facing society today.

Why? The human body didn’t evolve for the purpose of a sedentary lifestyle. Our bodies are designed to move. And yet our busy digital- and technology-driven lives have created serious problems for ambitious workers, creators, and entrepreneurs. We spend hours a day sitting at our computers, at our desks, and in our cars. We live each day with minimal whole-body movement. We slump over our iPhones, workstations, and dinner tables. Click here to read more about wellness in the workplace.

These habits profoundly affect the body, mind, and spirit. Extensive research shows that the Sitting Disease—or the state of physical, mental, or emotional pain that results from being sedentary—is greatly to blame. You’re probably familiar with a number of the symptoms and sitting disease statistics—everything from neck and back pain to depression, obesity, heart disease, and even cancer. A growing and costly problem, Sitting Disease is one of the cornerstones to so many acute and chronic health care conditions today. In fact, it has become a veritable epidemic in modern-day society.

Let me share the science, evidence-based research, and studies that should help convince you to take action.

THE SITTING DISEASE IS DEADLY.

Approximately 36 percent of adults in the United States do not engage in any physical activity in their free time. Lack of physical activity accounts for 22 percent of coronary heart disease, 22 percent of colon cancer, 18 percent of osteoporotic fractures, 12 percent of diabetes and hypertension, and 5 percent of breast cancer. Science Daily

THE SITTING DISEASE COSTS A LOT.

At least 100 million Americans live with chronic pain, with the resulting treatments and productivity loss costing an estimated $635 billion. Harvard

THE SITTING DISEASE IMPACTS YOUR ABILITY TO WORK.

In the United States, 7.6 million people list back pain as their reason for filing disability claims. It’s the second most common reason for filing these claims. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

THE SITTING DISEASE COMPROMISES YOUR BOTTOM LINE.

Worker illness and injury cost United States employers $225.8 billion annually. Centers for Disease Control Foundation

THE SITTING DISEASE MAKES YOU SICK.

Too much sitting is linked to serious disease and premature death. Harvard Health Publications

THE SITTING DISEASE IS THE “NEW SMOKING.”

Every hour of television watched may reduce our lifespan by an average of 21.8 minutes. Smoking a cigarette, on the other hand, reduces our lifespan by about 11 minutes. British Journal of Sports Medicine