Ep. 408 | Is Sitting Really the New Smoking & Drop Body Fat By Doing 1 Thing

Jan 24

Is sitting really the new smoking? I examine a fascinating new study showing how sedentary behaviors like prolonged sitting negatively impact heart health and longevity. The research categorizes daily movement into sleep, sitting, standing, light activity, and moderate/vigorous exercise. It then models reallocating time between these behaviors.

The results show startling effects from too much sitting, and I explain how just small changes in your day can impact your BMI, waist circumference, and cardiometabolic risk factors.

Quotable Moments

"Sitting really is the new smoking."

"Just 5-7 more minutes per day of standing or light activity leads to lower BMI and waist size."

"30 more minutes of brisk walking or exercise substantially improves heart disease risk factors."

ABOUT THE BLUEPRINT PODCAST

The BluePrint Podcast is for busy professionals and Household CEOs who care deeply about their families, career, and health. Host Dr. Erik Korem distills cutting edge-science, leadership, and life skills into simple tactics optimized for your busy lifestyle and goals. Dr. Korem interviews scientists, coaches, elite athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and exceptional people to discuss science and practical skills you can implement to become the most healthy, resilient, and impactful version of yourself.

On a mission to equip people to pursue audacious goals, thrive in uncertainty, and live a healthy and fulfilled life, Dr. Erik Korem is a High-Performance pioneer. He introduced sports science and athlete-tracking technologies to collegiate and professional (NFL) football over a decade ago. He has worked with the National Football League, Power-5 NCAA programs, gold-medal Olympians, Nike, and the United States Department of Defense.

Erik is an expert in sleep and stress resilience. He is the Founder and CEO of AIM7, a health and fitness app that unlocks the power of wearables by providing you with daily personalized recommendations to enhance your mind, body, and recovery.