It is a growing health issue that threatens to trigger cancer, diabetes and heart disease.
Sitting for longer than four hours a day increases a person's chance of suffering chronic disease.
Now, inspired to address the lack of physical activity in modern work life, one French designer believes he might have created the answer.
With just two legs, the 'Inactivite' chair relies on the user engaging the muscles in their core to keep it upright.
Benoit Malta, the man behind the creation, said he wanted to encourage movement for those office workers who spent around 70 per cent of the day sitting down.
The chair creates a slight discomfort, as the user has to keep shifting position to keep it stable.
It passively stimulates other parts of the body, in a similar way to an exercise ball, forcing the user to have better posture.
The chair is not meant to be sat in for long periods, just a couple of hours at a time.
Mr Malta worked with ergonomists and physical therapists to refine the structure, which took nine months to research and develop.
When the chair is not being used, it has to be propped against a wall or table.
And despite looking risky, the design prevents people from falling while using it.
'Our living spaces are conceived with the idea of time-saving and cutting down on physical activity,' said Mr Malta.
'Stationary behaviour is so common now, most people have little physical activity during the day.
'People watch a lot of TV and work on computers and many people suffer from spine and muscular problems because of this stationary behaviour.
'Companies are coming up with products to make our lives easier, such as autonomous vacuum cleaners or other domestic robots, but trying to offer consumers an easier life creates lots of health problems.
'Our houses are becoming more and more comfortable and people would not imagine a house built with the idea of discomfort.
'But discomfort can put the body in motion and out of its chronic stationary posture.
'The chair is an important part of your life, as most of us stay sitting for more than 70 per cent of the day.
'The challenge of the chair was to propose a product which tried to encourage movement.
'I wanted to design a chair that had a visual impact but was also efficient on the human body.
'The structure of the chair was designed in order to prevent people falling out - the legs have been inclined 12 degrees relative to the vertical axis and the height of the back was designed to help prevent it.
'At the moment, the chair is a unique piece. I didn't design it to be sold by a furniture brand and mass produced.
'Design is not just about filling a gap in the market, the practice of design can be used to make people think about ourselves to change our behaviours.
'I hope it will encourage people to try to be more active.'
