Sitting for long periods of time is just as dangerous to your health as smoking, according to researchers at Queen's University in Belfast.

It is believed to be linked to increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and even early death, and could be just as big a threat to public health, if not more so, than smoking.

The Queen's researchers are part of a European consortium which has received a €4.5 million European Commission grant to help develop innovative ways to tackle sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity in older people.

Dr Mark Tully, from the UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health at Queen's University, is leading the project in Northern Ireland.

Dr Tully said: "Levels of sedentary behaviour increase as we age, which poses a significant threat to the health of our population, especially as Northern Ireland is set to face the largest increase in the number of older adults, than other UK countries.

"One of the biggest threats to health is the amount of time spent sitting. On average people spend over nine hours, or up to 80 per cent of their waking day, sitting down.

"Public health scientists have recognised the need to develop effective interventions to address the high levels of inactivity across ages, with sitting regarded as 'the new smoking'."

(CD)