Calls for law banning workers from sitting over 2 hrs at desks continuously

A leading health expert has demanded that laws must be changed to make it illegal for workers to sit for more than two hours at a time, as it raises the risk of diabetes.

Professor Jonathan Shaw, whose 12-year 'AusDiab' study on the health status of 11,000 Australians calculates that 269 adults develop diabetes every day, said that drastic measures are needed, News.com.au reported.

Professor Shaw said that changes in occupational health and safety regulations were required in order to tackle the growing personal and community impact of chronic disease.

According to the health expert's 12 year study of 11,000 Australians, young people aged 25-34 are gaining more weight than any other age group.

The study has also found people over-estimated the amount of exercise they thought they were doing and underestimated the average time spent sitting.

Professor Shaw said that a rule that bans sitting for more than two hours might not go down well with employers, but they must view its as a long-term investment in their employees.