People who don't drink coffee and sit for six or more hours a day have 60 percent higher risk of dying: Study

People who don't drink coffee and sit for six or more hours a day are at almost 60 percent higher risk of dying compared to coffee drinkers who sit for less than six hours daily, according to research published in BioMed Central (BMC) Public Health. Researchers from the Medical College of Soochow University's School of Public Health in China tracked over 10,000 adults in the US for up to 13 years. They found an increased risk of dying for sedentary non-coffee drinkers, a risk not observed among those who drink coffee.

Sedentary coffee drinkers had a 24 percent lower risk of death

The study also revealed that sedentary coffee drinkers had a 24 percent lower risk of death compared to non-coffee drinkers who sat for at least six hours a day. This specific result was calculated at The Washington Post's request, according to the media website's report.

"The benefits of coffee consumption in improving overall survival in adults compared to sedentary behaviour are manifold," the authors wrote in the study.


Consuming coffee appears to lower the risk of metabolic problems that can worsen inflammation, which in turn increases the risk of death due to sedentary behaviour, the researchers noted.

Risk of Premature Mortality

Participants who consumed the highest amounts of coffee had a 33 percent lower risk of dying from any cause compared to non-coffee drinkers.

The results align with previous studies that found a link between higher coffee consumption and a lowered risk of dying from any cause, including heart disease.

Compounds in coffee, such as caffeine and polyphenols, are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. However, researchers pointed out that the exact mechanisms by which coffee lowers death risk remain unclear.

Additionally, the study found sitting for more than eight hours a day was associated with over a 40 percent higher risk of death from any cause and almost an 80 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease.

For their analysis, the researchers utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which tracks Americans' health and nutrition.

"Given that coffee is a complex compound, further research is needed to explore this miracle compound," the authors wrote.

(Inputs from PTI)