It’s becoming more well-known that sitting for long periods is not healthy. This puts millions of office workers at risk. But do you know exactly what prolonged sitting does to your body?

A new video from the YouTube channel AsapSCIENCE details the health effects, which can include fewer calories being burned, a drop in blood flow, and your body’s insulin becoming less efficient. These effects – among others – can lead to an increase risk of disease and an early death.

The video’s creators released a companion video on their AsapTHOUGHT channel offering tips to mitigate the negative health effects of prolonged sitting. Most of the tips boil down to standing and walking much more often.

I view every article, video or study that highlights the damages of prolonged sitting as a helpful reminder to get out of my chair. My New Year’s resolution: Standing up more often. What about you?

The opinions expressed in "On Safety" do not necessarily reflect those of the National Safety Council or affiliated local Chapters.