Do you spend long, countless hours sitting each day?

S T O P

S T A N D    U P

W A L K

New research indicates that a quick, 2-minute walk might largely reduce the detrimental effects of sitting for extended periods of time.

Do you exercise before work, before hitting the chair for the rest of the day?

S T O P

S T A N D    U P

W A L K

Risks such as, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, kidney problems, and premature death can increase even if individual exercises then sits in a chair for the majority of the day.

Can you relate?

Research performed at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City examined 3,626 generally healthy adult men and women. During the study’s term, participants spent their days sitting, participating in low-intensity activity, performing light-intensity activity such as strolling around the room, or engaging in moderate to intense activity such as jogging.

Researchers analyzed death records for 3 to 4 years after the study to determine how many participants died during the study. They also used the statistics to find out if standing, walking, or jogging instead of sitting increased longevity.

Results were surprising!

Low-intensity activity such as standing had little effect on mortality…

Light-intensity activity such as strolling performed after standing largely lowered mortality risk.

Participants who replaced only 2 minutes of sitting with light walking each hour decreased their risk of premature death by 33%!

Scientifically, the decrease in mortality risk is the result of energy balance: Walking instead of sitting raises the number of calories burned aiding in weight loss and other metabolic changes, ultimately increasing longevity.

So, during your next team meeting, suggest going for a walk instead of sitting in the conference room!

 

*Please note the study discussed above is observational. It does not prove that walking instead of sitting directly decreases morality risk; they are only associated. 

 

 

 

Reference

Reynolds, G. (2015). A 2-minute walk may counter the harms of sitting. The New York Times: Well Blog. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/13/a-2-minute-walk-may-counter-the-harms-of-sitting/?emc=eta1&_r=1 Accessed on May 18, 2015.