An editor's working life is a rather sedentary one and, unfortunately, an after-work burst of activity at the gym is unlikely to negate the full health risks of all that sitting. In this issue, Straker and colleagues (doi: 10.5694/mja13.00037) remind us of the health risks associated with excessive sedentary behaviour, particularly in the office, where many of us (not just editors) spend around half our sedentary time. They present data showing that risks of increased mortality, obesity and type 2 diabetes associated with sitting persist even when workers meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity outside the office. Although these cultural norms are unlikely to change in the near future, the authors propose that doctors advocate for increased movement in the workplace. However, the evidence for the value of intervening in the workplace is lacking, and the descriptive data are a good reason for a formal intervention study.
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