Too Much Sitting Is Bad for You—but Some Types Are Better Than Others

Our quality of life is affected by how much we sit, and perhaps even more importantly, why we sit

Screen time was consistently and negatively associated with subjective well-being. Eugenio Marongiu/Shutterstock

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a number of new behaviors into daily routines such as physical distancing, mask-wearing, and hand sanitizing. Meanwhile, many old behaviors—attending events, eating out, and seeing friends—have been put on hold.

However, one old behavior that has persisted, and has arguably been amplified due to COVID-19, is sitting—and it isn’t surprising to see why. Whether sitting during transportation, work, screen time, or even meals, everyday environments and activities are tailored nearly exclusively to prolonged sitting. As such, sedentary behaviors, such as sitting, make up the vast majority of our waking day.