Living a sedentary life, which means sitting for at least 8-10 hou can be disastrous for your body and overall health. According to experts, the less sitting or lying down you do during the day, the better your chances of living a healthy life.

For those who do desk jobs, commute home to relax, sit and watch television, read books, or play computer games, they are spending most of their time sitting. Even if you exercise regularly, you may end up with an increased risk of colorectal, lung, prostate, ovarian, or endometrial cancer, apart from the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart diseases.

Doctors say humans are built to stand upright, as it helps better work your cardiovascular system, bowel movements, and healthy bones and joints. And so, being physically active not only helps you with your overall energy levels and improves endurance but also gives you strength.

So, can you get cancer from a couch cushion? No. Doctors say the relationship between sitting and the disease is not a direct one. However, there is a strong connection between constant inactivity and cancer, as many studies have revealed.

Experts say a sedentary lifestyle leads to obesity, which is responsible for at least 4-8 per cent of all cancer diagnoses.

Experts say even though moving around exercise is good for you, it should be regular and consistent. It is recommended that adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week. But even if you work out for those 150 minutes or more, it does not erase all the negative effects if you spent eight hours sitting on your bum earlier in the day.

According to experts, long periods of inactivity will still put you at risk.

So, make sure to find simple ways to move more without disrupting your work. Have a walking meeting, stand during seminars, or perform desk exercises. You can even ask your co-workers to join you for laps around the office.

Also, you can your work environment as office equipment, like standing and treadmill desks, are gaining popularity.

Start with short spurts of moderate to vigorous physical activity to get your heart pumping and improve your health. Make sure to daily park at the far end of the parking lot, take the stairs, or walk while you climb up.

Tidying the house also can limit couch time.

According to experts, try to relax with an activity that does not need you to sit. For example, you can take a fun dance class, work in your garden or walk around your neighbourhood.

According to research, for every hour of television or screen time you watch after the age of 25, your life expectancy goes down by almost 22 minutes. But the real culprit is not just your TV, but the time you spend sitting when you are binge-watching.

It is important to cut back on TV, video games, and computer screen time, and you would engage in active behaviour.

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