Desk jobs increase risk of heart disease

PHOTO/Abbey Ramadhan

Spending too much time sitting down is bad for your heart, a new study shows.

According to Mirror, research found a link between sedentary work and a bigger waist circumference and higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

To avoid the risk, people may have to walk at least seven miles a day or spend seven hours per day upright, the UK based newspapers has reported.

The researchers studied 111 healthy Glaswegian postal workers who were kitted out with activity monitors for seven days. Fifty-five of them were office workers and 56 delivered post for a living.

The study revealed those who had desk jobs registered a bigger waist circumference - 97cm compared to 94cm - and approximately one BMI unit difference.

They also had a higher risk of cardiovascular disease - 2.2% compared to 1.6% over 10 years.

The research suggests waist circumference increases by two centimetres, and risk of cardiovascular diseases by 0.2%, for every additional hour of sitting on top of five hours.

Dr William Tigbe of Warwick Medical School at the University of Warwick, who led the research, said: "Longer time spent in sedentary posture is significantly associated with larger waist circumference, higher triglycerides (fat in the blood) and lower HDL cholesterol, all adding up to worse risk of heart disease.

"The levels associated with zero risk factors were walking more than 15,000 steps per day, which is equivalent to walking seven to eight miles, or spending seven hours per day upright.

"Our findings could be used as the basis of new public health targets for sitting, lying, standing and stepping to avoid metabolic risks.

"However the levels suggested in our research would be very challenging to achieve unless incorporated into people's occupations."

Participants in the study wore a tiny physical activity and position monitor called activPAL, invented by co-authors from Glasgow Caledonian University, strapped to their thigh for seven days.

They also had their weight, height and blood pressure measured, and provided blood samples.

Cardiovascular risks were assessed using the Procam risk calculator which takes into account age, sex, family history, blood pressure and metabolic measures.

The study took place between September 2006 and September 2007, involving volunteers from the Royal Mail in Glasgow.

Only apparently healthy non-smokers, with no personal history of heart attack, stroke, coronary heart disease, hypertension or diabetes were included.