14 DAY TRIAL // It was only a few months back that scientists with the American Cancer Society published a study cautioning that being a couch potato can up cancer risk by as much as 10%.
Now, another investigation carried out by specialists with the American Society of Nephrology warns that sitting or lying long hours appears to also take its toll on an individual's kidneys.
Specifically, the scientists say that, according to their investigations, people who are in the habit of sitting or lying down for hours on end are at a greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
How a sedentary lifestyle affects the kidneys
As part of their investigation, the American Society of Nephrology specialists studied the activity patterns and the overall health condition of 5,873 adults.
The researchers found that, assuming the volunteers stayed awake for 16 hours daily, each additional 80 minutes that they would spend sitting or lying in bed rather than going for a walk would up chronic kidney disease risk by 20%.
This association remained even when the specialists accounted for risk factors such as other health trouble that could negatively affect a person's kidneys.
“This association was independent of moderate/vigorous physical activity duration, demographics, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, lung disease and mobility limitations.”
“Moreover, this association persisted even after adjusting for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity,” Science Daily explains.
Further studies are needed, the team urge
Considering their findings, the researchers behind this investigation feel confident to say that, as the data shows, a sedentary lifestyle appears to up the risk of chronic kidney disease.
Nonetheless, they say further investigations should be carried out to confirm this link. Besides, future studies should also focus on whether sitting or lying in bed for long hours can make existing kidney trouble worse.
So far, studies have confirmed a sedentary lifestyle to be a risk factor for obesity, hypertension and diabetes. Apparently, there's more to be added to this list.