Sitting too can damage your health

London, July 24:

People who spend their working day at a desk are more likely to die young - irrespective of the exercise they take, experts have found.

Women who sat for more than six hours a day are 37 per cent more likely to suffer an early death than those who sat for fewer than three hours, reports express.co.uk.

For men the figure is 18 per cent, according to research by the American Cancer Society.

It did not matter how much physical activity they do at other times.

When combined with a lack of physical activity, however, the link between sitting and early death became even stronger.

Women couch potatoes are 94 per cent more likely to die young. The figure for men is 48 per cent.

Lead researcher Alpha Patel said those who spent most of their working day sitting down should be encouraged to walk around frequently.