Sitting at a desk all day is 'as bad for health as smoking'

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Millions of workers who sit at desks for hours on end before going home to sit in front of the TV are increasing their chances of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity, says Professor Marc Hamilton of the University of Missouri.

Writing in the November issue of the medical journal Diabetes, he said: "The dire concern for the future may rest with growing numbers unaware of the potential insidious dangers of sitting too much.

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Sitting down for extended periods is as bad for your health as smoking say scientists

"These studies demonstrate a significant impact of inactivity on a par with smoking.

"I view exposure to sitting...like an oncologist views exposure to unnecessary sunlight."

A second study at the International Diabetes Institute in Melbourne concluded that even two hours of exercise a day would not compensate for "spending 22 hours sitting on your rear end".

Professor David Dunstan told Australian Doctor magazine: "People who break up their sitting time - walking to a colleague rather than emailing him, for instance - have a lower risk of diabetes."