The Scientific Background...it is not a secret.
The people of our world are becoming increasingly heavier. Obesity has been on the rise for more than 20 years. Over 60% of adults in the United States are either overweight or obese. At least one out of every 3 children is overweight or obese. Excess body weight in the form of fat increases an individual's risk for multiple complications including but not limited to diabetes, heart disease, cancer, gout, fertility issues, and metabolic syndrome. If you smoke and are overweight or obese, your risk is even higher.
Did you know that one third of all cancers can be attributed to poor nutrition, physical inactivity and obesity? Therefore one third of all cancers can be prevented through the lifestyle choices we make each day.
You may have heard that multiple factors predispose an individual to increased risk for obesity including genetics, exposure to unhealthy food choices, less active lifestyles, a reduction in physical education in the public school system...the list goes on and on. One key contributing factor is how our physical environment (sometimes called the "built environment") has changed with suburbanization, reduced sidewalks, and increased commute times to name a few. All of these examples have led to a reduction in our physical activity and an increase in sedentary time...in other words, we sit more.
Did you know that Americans on average spend more than 50% of their day, awake time, in activities where we sit or lie down?
Yes, many of us have desk jobs requiring us to sit for long periods of time PLUS we spend our non-work time in a seated position.
Did you know that time spent in sedentary activities (e.g. computer usage, t.v. watching, knitting, reading) independent of moderate intensity exercise is a risk factor for multiple chronic diseases, e.g. obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease?
Yes, even if you go to the gym and exercise but sit the rest of the day, your risk of chronic disease is greater than the person that goes to the gym and is active throughout the day.
Did you know that someone who is obese and FIT has a lower chance of dying from all-causes including heart disease than someone who is lean and UNFIT?
That's right. Did I really just say that? Someone who is heavier and is active ("fit" as assessed via cardiorespiratory fitness) is healthier than the thin person that is not active. This is not said to justify being overweight or obese but rather to illustrate the importance of being fit regardless of your body weight/size.
Knitting has multiple documented health benefits (stress reliever, decreased joint pain in fingers, reduces cognitive decline, lower incidence of depression, improved self-esteem). So yes, knitting is wonderful for your health. With that said, knitting is a sedentary activity so we need to be mindful of how much time we are spending in the chair knitting. We love our craft/hobby/art but we need to balance the time spent knitting with active behaviors (e.g. walking, hiking, yoga, biking) so that we can continue to knit for years to come.