Disastrous effects of sitting for long hours

 Sitting is the new smoking - a health alert in Times of India daily reads. As per research for 15 years studying the effects of sitting for long hours, it is found that sitting for more than four hours causes obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, multiple cancers, etc. It is advised to set an alarm to go around and have some exercise. Sitting makes metabolic system to sleep whereas small movements will help to keep metabolic system recharged.
My ex-boss (20 years ago), used to take water as soon as he comes to office and relieves pressure in half-hour to one hour. Before coming to seat, he will take a glass or two of water and resumes work. This makes him to get up again after sometime. I find this is very good method to avoid sitting for long, immersed in the work.
However, with my personal experience, I used to hold the pressure for sometime (even 3 hours) because of work pressure. I do not know the health effects, but definitely not good for the body.

Vitamin D deficiency - exposure to sun helps

In a report published in the news paper, it is stated that vitamin D deficiency can cause weak bones, obesity, chronic pains and depression. Exposure to sun helps in increase of vitamin D levels in the body which helps in quick recovery in case of fractures, and so on. Lack of vitamin D manifests itself through acute pain in the feet, shoulders, neck and joints in some individuals, as per the report. Also there is possibility of low immunity levels, diabetes, etc.
One can have sufficient vitamin D simply by exposure to sun without paying extra money.It is reported that fair skin people need about 20 min/day exposure to sun 3-4 times a week, whereas for dark skin people, it is 30-40 min exposure a day for 3-4 times a week. The ultraviolet-B radiation from sun which is intense during mid day helps to make this vitamin. One should keep moving while having sun exposure and stationary people will receive sun burns.
From the above, for working people who have to put long hours (forced/voluntary) by going to office early and coming out in the late evenings; spending the day in cubicles; not venturing out, etc are more prone to side effects of this vitamin D deficiency. Thus, though we may be in the good books of the boss for  EXTRA hard work by spending more hours in the work place, after few years when we become sick due to vitamin D deficiency, we will be sick and also fall  from the grace (of the boss).

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/diet-and-nutrition/soak-up-some-sun/article4455404.ece

Obesity - Eating excessive food - Is it an addiction?

It is age old saying that, one should not talk while eating, chew the food 32 times before swallowing, take one glass water 30 minutes before and after taking the food but not during eating, take small meals for every 2-3 hours instead of 3 big meals in a day, take 8 glasses of water in a day and so on. But, for various reasons we do not follow most of such wisdom sayings.
As experts say, we take more food while watching TV, not knowing what and how much we are consuming. For the same reason, problematic kids also take food when they are watching TV. Parents switch ON to some cartoon channel to feed the children who otherwise will be resisting to have food.
I observed in my own case that I am grabbing some food item while watching TV, though I am not hungry. If I am not, may be psychologically I am feeling hungry and getting some item throughout the length of the TV programme. And, thus my weight increased 17 kg in the last 15 years, 4 kg of this in the last one or two months alone. More food is also consumed to avoid wastage.
Alarmed by this sudden increase, I decided to stop lunch for few days or may be few weeks till I get results on either way i.e good or bad. It's now 10 days. I observed that to stop hunger or burning in the day time, I am taking water and my water intake has gone up from one liter to about 3 liters during the day time. In a way, this practice is bringing my acidity problem under control, though my wife says it can be a temporary phenomenon. During this day time, I am taking one or two cup of tea or coffee, not more than that. Evenings, I am taking one or two handfuls of sprouts, which I started in the last one week followed by tea or energy drink (bournvita). Now, I am observing that my food intake during dinner also is reducing almost to half of the earlier quantity. I have to mention here that I am taking more side-dishes like sambar, rasam and curd with rice or roti. I feel like my stomach is full halfway through and unable to take any more food.
From the above, it's my conclusion that taking food is an addiction.
Now, I have to see for some more time, whether this type of eating food  helps in weight reduction also and develops into a food habit.