Reclining and lying down: More risky than sitting for heart health?
News briefs
- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Spending too much time sitting has long been linked to poor cardiovascular health. A new study suggests that reclining and lying down may be even worse — and that sitting isn’t so bad as long as you stand up a few times every hour.
The study included nearly 4,300 people ages 20 to 69 (average age 50). Researchers collected information about their health and activity patterns, including how many waking hours they spent in sedentary behavior (lying flat, reclining, and sitting) and doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity.
They found that more time spent lying down or reclining was associated with a larger waist circumference and a higher Framingham risk score (a measure that uses blood pressure, cholesterol, and other factors to estimate risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke). Short bouts of sitting (20 minutes or less) and standing were linked to lower risk scores. Neither of these associations appeared to be affected by how much time people spent doing moderate-to-vigorous exercise. The findings were published in the December 2025 issue of The American Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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