Reasons sedentary work can be harmful

Researchers are trying to establish why sedentary work causes harm to workers. Several hypotheses have been generated.

Hypotheses explaining the health impacts of sedentary lifestyle include:

• changes to body metabolism caused by an increased level of fats and cholesterol with reduced insulin sensitivity
• physical inactivity reducing bone density
• limited evidence from a study on bed rest that changes in the blood supply system caused damage to the blood vessels constantly sitting or lying down.

The body of research available on the outcomes of a sedentary lifestyle are clear that harm will be caused.