Sitting down at work is affecting your bum (and not in a good way)

We didn't see this one coming...

We kind of already knew that sitting down all day at work isn't going to win us rear of the year, as you’re pretty inactive when working in front of a screen at your desk. It's a truth widely accepted that you have to put a bit more effort into exercising in your spare time if you have a 'sitting down job'.

But it turns out there’s a bit more too it than that - and it isn’t good news.

That’s right, not only is sitting at your desk doing your bum no good whatsoever - but you could actually be undoing all the hard work you put in at the gym. Gulp.

According to the New York Post, 'office ass' is now a thing and it could be ruining your butt.

_{Source: Sporza via Giphy}

Basically, the more you sit, the more likely you’re going to end up with a flatter bum - so, all the squats you’re putting yourself through won’t have as good an impact on the appearance of your derrière.

In order to avoid this, you should be going for a little walk for at least five minutes of every hour that you’re awake, says physical therapist Abby Bales to the New York Post. ‘The more you sit, the more you have the chance of developing a flatter booty. So the first line of defence is to stand up more.’ If that's not motivation to exercise during the day, we don't know what is.

It’s worth noting that this is only to do with the actual appearance of your bum. Of course, all of the physical health benefits that come with working out will still apply.

So, as long as you make sure you’re getting up and walking to the end of the office, climbing some stairs or popping out to get a coffee every now and then, you should be all good.

Maybe we should invest in one of those standing desks?