Eat on your feet, says Finland
June 18, 2015
People should occasionally eat on their feet instead of sitting down, according to public health officials in Finland.
"Many things can be done in a standing position or walking around instead of sitting down. Standing up also works for reading a newspaper, eating, taking a coffee break and watching television," the Finnish Health Ministry recommended on Wednesday in a publication entitled "Sit Less, Feel Better."
Finns are leading increasingly sedentary lifestyles, with studies cited in the publication showing that adults sit, lie down or stand still for more than three-quarters of their time awake.
Excessive sitting is linked to musculoskeletal disorders, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
"Among those who sit more than seven hours a day, every additional hour spent sitting down increases the risk of death by 5 percent," the ministry warned.
Get on your feet
The ministry said that while Finns generally exercise regularly, this on its own cannot stop the adverse effects of sitting down for hours on end.
"People of all ages should avoid excessive sitting," the publication recommended. "They should walk or cycle short distances or stand in public transport, and try to maintain physically active ways of working."
It noted that getting off public transport a stop early and walking an extra 300 meters (328 yards) twice a day would amount to around 150 kilometers (93 miles) in a year.
The ministry also raised concerns over the growing amount of time Finnish children are spending nowadays browsing smartphones and playing video games.
Children should not sit continuously for more than an hour, a practice in line with the 45-minute-long lessons in Finnish schools, the ministry said.
mh/sms (AFP)