According to a number of reports published in the scientific journal "Lancet," physical inactivity accounts for 10 percent of premature deaths around the world, which is the same percentage caused by smoking-related mortality.

Along with dietitians, registered nurses and physicians are responsible for advising their patients to live active and healthy lifestyles by eating right and exercising every day. Additionally, whether an oncology nurse or otherwise, all healthcare assistants should make sure their patients understand the side effects of smoking.

James Levine, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic, spoke with WebMD about the importance of the study's findings.

"This is a super, super analysis," Levine told the news source. "We know that as soon as somebody gets out of their chair, their blood sugar improves, their blood cholesterol and triglycerides improve, and that's very consistent."

Living a sedentary life not only results in serious medical conditions like blood clots, but also contributes to susceptibility to four major diseases, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer and breast cancer.