Sedentary behavior and cardio-metabolic health: a study into the hazards of sitting too much

Physical activity is healthy – that is a well-known fact. Still, many people spend the larger part of the day sitting down. To address this issue, this thesis looks into the relationship between sedentary behaviour and cardio-metabolic health in connection with type 2 diabetes. The research shows that each additional hour spent seated leads to a 22% increase in the chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Reducing sedentary behaviour by standing up or walking around for half an hour significantly reduces the chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Therefore, it could be valuable to draw up guidelines for sedentary behaviour in addition to guidelines for physical activity.