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Sitting At A Desk Increases Risk For Obesity

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Well, we have yet another study stressing the importance of exercise. The more time men spend sitting at a desk, the greater the risk of being overweight or obese.

The numbers are interesting. Roughly speaking, if you sit behind a desk six hours a day, you have almost doubled the risk of obesity when you compare it to someone who spends only 45 minutes a day behind a desk. Five minutes a day behind a desk actually is five more than you need.

As you know, we should be exercising as much as possible. Of course you can't help it if you have a desk job. But the lesson is clear. If you have a desk job, you need to get out and exercise when you're not at work. You have to take the time to do it. If not, it will catch up with you. You'll get inflexible and you'll gain weight.

It seems obvious and it is hard to exercise at the end of a long day but it is well worth it.

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