Sitting is called the "new smoking" because it has been linked to a number of the same health problems as smoking, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. Just as smoking cigarettes can damage your lungs and other organs, sitting for long periods of time can damage your body in a number of ways. For example, sitting can: * Slow down your metabolism, leading to weight gain * Increase your risk of developing chronic diseases * Weaken your muscles and bones * Increase your risk of developing blood clots * Reduce your circulation * Cause pain and stiffness in your muscles and joints The phrase "sitting is the new smoking" was coined by Dr. James A. Levine, a professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic. In a 2012 study, Levine and his colleagues found that people who sat for more than six hours a day were twice as likely to die from cardiovascular disease as those who sat for less than three hours a day. Another study, published i...