Sitting Too Long is Bad for Your Mental & Physical Health

There is more bad news for the office-bound working population: according to a new study, sitting at your desk all day may not only put your health at risk, but it's also bad for your mental well-being.

Last week, scientists presented research at the British Psychologica Society's Annual Occupational Conference in Chester, England, and warned that the more you sit, the more your risk for both a higher body mass index score and decreased mental well-being.

Researchers surveyed more than 1,000 workers. Of those surveyed, more than 70 percent did not meet recommended guidelines for exercise. Their findings also showed that the more sitting you do at work, the more likely you are to sit on your off work hours, which only increases your risks of mental strain and health problems even more.

According to the study, people spend on average five hours and 41 minutes per day sitting at their desks and eight hours sleeping at night. Researchers warn that this is "too much sitting".

This new study just adds to the growing body of research that suggests that sitting can raise risks for numerous problems, including diabetes and obesity. This is even more true if you also spend time outside of work lounging in front of the TV or commuting to and from work.