A new research has found that sitting down for 10 or more hours a day without regular exercise can make a person's cells age prematurely. The study found the cells of women who sit for over 10 hours and do less than 40 minutes of exercise a day have biologically eight years older than women who are less sedentary. The women with biologically older cells had shorter telomeres which are found at the end of DNA strands and help to protect chromosomes from deterioration.
Telomeres are described as acting like the plastic tips on shoelaces and naturally shorten and fray as a cell ages. The shortening of telomeres is associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and major cancers, while lifestyle factors, such as smoking and obesity, may also contribute to this shortening.
"Our study found cells age faster with a sedentary lifestyle. Chronological age doesn't always match biological age," said Dr Aladdin Shadyab, lead author. "We found that women who sat longer did not have shorter telomere length if they exercised for at least 30 minutes a day," he added.
Research suggests that excessive sitting can slow down the body's metabolism, which can affect a person's ability to regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, and to metabolise fat. The study recommends people should exercise for at least 150 minutes a week and reduce the amount of time spent sitting down, whether it is spent at a computer, watching TV, while travelling on a bus or in a car, or doing homework.
