Sitting for long lengths of time is unhealthy. Those who sit for long lengths of time have larger bottoms and, much more importantly, slower metabolisms. In fact, studies have demonstrated that prolonged sitting will kill you. The risk of heart disease from sitting too much has been found to be about the same as that of smokers. How great is the risk? According to an Australian study the all cause mortality rate of those who sit for prolonged periods of time is 50% higher than in those who are more active and the risk of cardiovascular events is 125% higher.

"Prolonged sitting time...independent of physical activity, has emerged as a risk factor for various negative health outcomes. Study results have demonstrated associations of prolonged sitting...with premature mortality (you die younger. HTM); chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer; metabolic syndrome and obesity." (http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2012/11_0323.htm) "Prolonged sitting has been shown to disrupt metabolic function resulting in increased plasma triglyceride levels, decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and decreased insulin sensitivity," Dr. Hidde van der Ploeg, a senior research fellow at the University of Sydney’s School of Public Health in Australia, told TIME's Healthland.

For reasons not yet fully understood, "these relationships have been found to be consistently stronger for women than for men." (http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/43/2/81.full)  On the other hand, "...breaks in prolonged sitting time have been correlated with beneficial metabolic profiles among adults, suggesting that frequent breaks in sedentary activity may explain lower health risk related to waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride levels, and 2-hour plasma glucose levels. (http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2012/11_0323.htm)

Concerned to help their fellow beings (and make a profit) entrepreneurs have been quick to respond to this crisis with new and innovative workplace gadgets to minimize sitting time. We now a variety have treadmill desks and stand up desks. There has also been a proliferation wellness programs made available to employees along with more ergonomically healthy work-stations offered by employers as they have become more aware of the financial costs of unhealthy employees and the financial benefits of healthy employees. Moreover, studies have consistently shown that standing burns 40% more calories than sitting. "However, systematic reviews indicate a lack of evidence of effectiveness  related to work-site-based interventions intended to reduce sitting time." (CDC)

The various work-site-based interventions are not inherently lacking in effectiveness. Allowing for the fact that not all devices are suitable for every workplace environment, the primary lack of effectiveness in work-site-based interventions is caused by failure of employees to use them.S

Standing is a simple intervention often recommended and employed; however, standing for prolonged periods is not panacea. Lack of optimal blood flow is one of the problems caused by prolonged sitting and simply standing, while it significantly improves metabolic activity, does little to improve blood flow. Not only that, but standing for long periods of time significantly raises risks for musculoskeletal disorders.

The problem with prolonged sitting is that the larger muscle groups, the contraction of which drive the metabolic system (as well as the flow of blood thus lowering the workload on the heart) are not being contracted when we sit. That is improved when standing; however, standing by itself makes a much more significant use of stabilizer muscles than it does of the large global muscle groups.

What can you do? Here are a couple of simple suggestions that activates global muscles, requires no gadgets, and will not interrupt your work. They may look a little silly but you will not look nearly as silly as being dead. It only takes 2-4 minutes of these activities every hour to win the battle against sitting

• Stand and walk in place or dance a bit.
• Do chair squats. Simply stand up and down from your chair for a couple of minutes. 
• Go to the water cooler and have some water. Not only will that get you moving for a couple of minutes but it will help overcome the chronic dehydration that most Americans suffer.
• It may not sound like much, but an Australian study found that these types of mini-breaks, just one minute long throughout the day, can actually make a difference. 
• The increased risk was separate from other traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as smoking or high blood pressure.