Studies link cancer to sitting too long

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Stop sitting. It could be killing you. At least that’s what a review of scientific studies seems to say.

A Canadian study that reviewed at 200 other studies worldwide found that more than 90,000 cases of breast and colon cancer a year are due to inactivity.

And work is one of the worst environments. Most people spend seven to nine hours on their seats during the day. But one Indianapolis company is hitting the problem head on.

It looks like any office - people sitting at desks doing work. But these desks - 2,600 of them at Eli Lilly's corporate headquarters in downtown Indianapolis - make it possible for employees to sit or stand.

Making sure people understand why all of this is important is Lilly ergonomic coordinator Andi Deaton.

"We focus a lot of our efforts on training and doing ergonomic evaluations to make sure that - whether people are sitting or standing - that they are working in the appropriate postures at their work stations,” said Deaton.

Also at Lilly, you will find employees walking and working on treadmills. There are eight treadmill work stations at the Lilly headquarters.

"The walking treadmill is adjustable and starts at a slow speed of about .3 mph, and then you can adjust it to whatever is a comfortable pace," said Ann Hynds, a longtime Lilly employee.

She said that though working on a treadmill may look awkward, it's not.

"The thing is, you can be as productive or more productive, so if you were feeling fatigued and you were in a sitting position, getting up and moving can actually increase that productivity," she said.

The unusual work environment isn’t new at Lilly. It's been in place since 2008.

And when it comes to your health, such an arrangement might be just what the doctor ordered.

"Any sitting is actually too much," said Dr. Holly Phillips, an internist and the CBS News medical consultant,

Phillips said the findings in the Canadian study are simple and straightforward: "One hour of sitting consistently without standing up in between is really too much and may raise your risk of cancer."

Moving is good for your health, and as Lilly learned, it's good for business.

"If we can keep our employees healthier and safe, then they will be here at work and focusing on work," Deaton said.

Here's a few simple suggestions to help maintain health.

• Exercise 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
• Walk quickly wherever you go at work
• Stand up at your desk every hour.