It's shocking how many hours a day Canadians sit

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It's shocking how many hours a day Canadians sit

Yikes! It's true – each day, Canadian adults spend almost 10 hours of their waking time being sedentary.

What is sedentary behaviour?

Being sedentary refers to activities that need very little physical movement and don't use much energy, such as sitting or lying down for long periods of time. Sedentary behaviour is different than not getting enough exercise.


Man sitting at a desk


What are common sedentary activities?

We're spending more and more time on screens – TVs, smartphones, tablets and computers. And when we're texting, watching videos, playing online games, hanging out on the Internet or sharing on social media, we're usually sitting.

We also spend more and more time in our cars and on public transit. And with the rise in technology, many of us spend our days sitting at work as well.

Why is sedentary behaviour bad?

Researchers recognize sedentary behaviour as a health risk since it can lead to weight gain. Obesity is a risk factor for at least 11 types of cancer.

Kick start some healthy habits by going Dry this Feb

Dry Feb is a fundraiser that challenges you to go alcohol-free in February to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. It helps you get healthy, while raising funds for an important cause - it's a win-win. Sign up today!

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This article has been republished with permission from the Canadian Cancer Society's website.

Important Note

Dry Feb is a fundraising campaign aimed at challenging social drinkers to change their habits for a month and make some healthy lifestyle changes. We would encourage people to drink responsibly and stick to the recommended daily guidelines for the rest of the year. We advise heavy drinkers or people dependent on alcohol to speak with their doctor before signing up to Dry Feb.