To be sedentary means to spend time sitting or being physically inactive. Nowadays, many adults work at jobs where they sit at their desks most of the day. Students sit in classes. In our time off, most of us sit some more in front of the TV or the computer screen.

The tools and technologies that make modern life convenient also make people more sedentary.
Let’s look at one example. Click on the pictures below to compare the physical activity involved in making bread at home 100 years ago with today.

What Are the Health Risks of a Sedentary Lifestyle?

• Cardiovascular—Your heart and lungs function less efficiently.
• Strength—You lose muscle tone and can’t lift as much or run as far.
• Endurance—When you are active, you tire more easily.
• Flexibility—You may lose range of motion in your joints, which makes you more likely to feel stiff and sore when you are active.