Exercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health

by Daniel E. Lieberman

Cortisol shunts sugar and fats into the bloodstream, it makes us crave sugar-rich and fat-rich foods, and it directs us to store organ fat rather than subcutaneous fat. Short bursts of cortisol are natural and normal, but chronic low levels of cortisol are damaging because they promote obesity and chronic inflammation. Consequently, long hours of stressful sitting while commuting or a high-pressure office job can be a double whammy.

those who engaged in more than seven hours per week of moderate or vigorous exercise had a 50 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease if they otherwise sat a lot. Altogether, these and other alarming studies suggest that even if you are physically active and fit, the more time you spend sitting in a chair, the higher your risk of chronic illnesses linked to inflammation, including some forms of cancer.