Those 5 minute breaks at the water cooler may not be such a bad idea after all, as scientists have claimed that sitting down for countless hours could shave two years off your life.

According to researchers at Louisiana University, adults who are only seated for a maximum of three hours a day typically live an extra two years.

Sedentary lifestyles have long been associated with increased levels of obesity and decreased fitness, which is in turn linked to heart problems, diabetes and many forms of cancer.

These findings undoubtedly lead to cause for concern amongst office workers who easily spend over 7 hours at their desks every day.

There is, however, evidence suggesting that implementing simple measures such as taking the stairs as opposed to the elevator and getting up from your desk to move around can improve heart health.

This research was published online in the journal of BMJ Open, and looked at previous studies involving 167,000 adults aged 18 to 90.