Introduction
In Britain, lots of us spend a substantial portion of our existence tethered to an office desk, thanks to the demands of the modern economy. While it might seem like a necessary evil, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that sitting at a desk all day is incredibly detrimental to our health. Nearly one-third of the global population (aged 15 and older) engages in insufficient physical activity, and it is known to contribute to the death of at least 3.2 million people every year.
The Evolutionary Perspective
Let's take a step back and consider how our ancestors lived. For the majority of human existence, we’ve been hunter gatherers, constantly on the move in search of food, shelter, and resources. Our bodies adapted to this lifestyle, culminating in features like bipedalism, opposable thumbs, and complex brains, which were optimized for survival in a dynamic and physically active environment.
The Modern Conundrum
Our modern work environment, dominated by desk jobs, sedentary tasks, and passive aggressive emailing, presents a stark contrast to the way humans have evolved to live. Technology has allowed us to automate many aspects of our lives (and this is likely to be exacerbated by Artificial Intelligence), but our bodies have not evolved at the same pace. We are, in a sense, biological misfits in the modern office.
The Detrimental Effects of Sedentary Behaviour:
1. Metabolic Consequences: Sitting for prolonged periods has been linked to various metabolic issues, including obesity and insulin resistance. If your default mode is ‘desk slump’, like Homer Simpson perpetually napping in Sector 7-G, eventually your metabolism will adapt accordingly.
2. Cardiovascular Risks: In short, a sedentary lifestyle increases all-cause mortality. The mean daily duration of sedentary behaviour is now 7.7 hours among the American population, so is it any surprise that every 33 seconds someone dies from cardiovascular disease in the United States.
3. Mental Well-being: Human evolution favoured social interactions and outdoor experiences. I can only imagine early human existence must have felt like a never-ending D of E weekend. Conversely, desk jobs often isolate us indoors, leading to stress, anxiety, and a deep-rooted hatred for Microsoft Excel – conditions largely absent in ancestral times.
4. Postural Problems: Sitting at a desk for hours can lead to poor posture, which can often result in chronic back and neck pain, if left unaddressed. If you’d like an idea of how these postural problems could manifest themselves from an evolutionary perspective, the next time you have a minute to spare, Google search ‘what will humans of the future look like?’
5. Muscle Atrophy: Extended periods of sitting cause muscles to become inactive, leading to muscle atrophy and weakness. Early humans constantly honed these muscles through crucial activities like hunting, gathering, and building shelters. Conversely, in modern times, shovelling buckets of ultra-processed food into our gullets and chronic masturbation are the closest thing many of us now get to any form of resistance training.
The Way Forward
Recognising the adverse effects of prolonged sitting, we should all take proactive and practicable steps to mitigate these risks. At the individual level, take regular breaks to stand, stretch, and move around throughout the workday. At the organisation level, let’s promote the adoption of ergonomic workstations (standing desks), and promote physical activity both inside and outside of work hours.
Summary
In conclusion, our sedentary work culture is not only detrimental to our health, but also at odds with the evolutionary path that shaped our bodies and minds. To live healthier, more fulfilling lives, we must heed the lessons of our evolutionary history and find ways to incorporate physical activity and movement into our daily routines, even in the face of modern desk-bound challenges.