Less Time Sitting Down Linked to Longer Life

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. reliable (adj.) [ri-lahy-uh-buhl] – dependable; can be trusted

Example: Teachers say books are more reliable sources of information than Wikipedia.

2. recollection (n.) [ree-kuh-lek-shuhn] – something remembered; memory

Example: Visiting her old home brought back many recollections of her childhood.

3. subject (n.) [suhb-jikt] – somebody or something being studied

Example: The scientists asked the subjects to answer a mental test.

4. sedentary (adj.) [sed-n-ter-ee] – without much movement or physical activity

Example: Doctors warn patients that a sedentary lifestyle can increase a person’s risk for obesity.

5. take into account (idiom) [teyk in-too,-tuh uh-kount] – to consider or to think about

Example: When planning an exercise program, we must also take into account our work schedules.

Article
Read the text below.

Researchers in the US estimate that less than three hours of sitting down in a day could add up to two years to a person’s life. Cutting down time for other sedentary activities like TV watching could also add a couple of years to one’s life. These results are based on a study of 167,000 people, who were asked how many hours a day they spent sitting down or watching TV. Using the answers, researchers analyzed people’s health risks and life expectancy. But some experts say the results of the study are not very reliable because the data came from people’s recollection of how much time they spent sitting and may not be accurate. The research was also limited to only a sample of the American population. Additionally, the subjects’ different lifestyles were not taken into account. There may have been some subjects whose poor health causes them to have sedentary lifestyles and not the other way around. The researchers themselves admit their findings are just educated guesses, but they say the study could be used as a health warning to the public. Natasha Stewart, a senior nurse from the British Heart Association, says that although the US study does not prove sedentary activities directly shorten lives, the study emphasizes people’s need to have more active lifestyles to prevent getting diseases that put people’s live at risk.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         Do you spend a lot of time doing sedentary activities? What kind of sedentary activities do you often do?

·         How can a person who sits in an office all day have a healthier lifestyle? Please explain your answer.

Discussion B

·         How do you keep yourself physically healthy?

·         Talk about one exercise which you really like to do and another exercise which you really hate to do. What about those exercises do you like or dislike?