Natalia Di Meglio, a graduate in Kinesiology, made a comparison that did not go unnoticed: according to her, spending 5 hours sitting is equivalent to the harm caused by smoking an entire pack of cigarettes.
The claim quickly went viral, but not because of applause. Many users accused her of exaggerating and of comparing two habits that, they say, do not carry the same level of risk. Others, however, came to her defense by citing studies that do link prolonged sedentary behavior to cardiovascular disease, circulatory problems, and a shorter life expectancy.
Beyond the controversy, the underlying message lingered: if you work sitting down for most of the day, perhaps it is time to stand up, walk for a few minutes, and move more often. The body, it seems, is not designed for stillness.