You may as well sit to hear this: standing up at work is no better for you than resting in a chair. That's the conclusion of a new study by British academics, who looked at the health status of more than 5000 people over a 16-year period. Each participant was asked to provide information on daily routines, including the amount of time they spent sitting, the type of sitting (at work or leisure) and their physical activity.Factors such as age, gender, socioeconomic status and alcohol intake were also considered. Contrary to recent advice, researchers found no difference between the mortality rates of those who sat for a long time and those who stood for the same time. Instead, the University of Exeter team concluded the key issue was mobility - while sitting or standing.The findings contradict health guidelines in several countries, which advise people to avoid sitting where possible, and the contemporary slogan that "sitting down is the new smoking"."It overturns thinking on the health risks of sitting and indicates the problem lies in absence of movement," said study author Dr Melvyn Hillsdon."Any stationary posture in which energy use is low may be harmful to health, be it sitting or standing." ..