I sit for too long

As a senior executive, my job entails sitting for long periods at meetings or during long-distance travel. I recently read somewhere that this can be detrimental to my health. Kindly advise.

Ibrahim (by SMS)

Many people sit for long periods of time, such as at a desk, behind a wheel or in front of a screen or even in vehicles or airplanes during long travels. Research suggests that there are health risks from too much sitting. Since less energy is used sitting compared to moving, extended sitting has been linked to obesity. It also has been linked to a cluster of conditions that make up metabolic syndrome. These conditions include increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and unhealthy cholesterol levels. Too much sitting overall also seems to raise the risk of death from heart disease and cancer.

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Overall, less sitting and more moving can aid in better health. You might start by simply taking a short break from sitting to standing every 30 minutes. Or find ways to walk while you work. Here are other suggestions: Stand while talking on the phone or watching television. If you work at a desk, try using a standing desk some of the time. You can improvise by standing at a high table or counter. It is not clear, however, whether standing, on its own, is effective for lowering the risk of too much sitting.

Have a walking meeting with coworkers rather than sitting in a conference room. Place your work surface above a treadmill so that you can be in motion when you need to use the computer. You can do this by placing your computer screen and keyboard on a stand. Or get a specialized treadmill-ready vertical desk.