The benefits of exercise depend on how many hours you’ve spent sitting
Despite growing awareness of the importance of physical activity for health, a new comprehensive review entitled “Physiology of Sedentary Behavior” reinforces the call for minimizing sedentary time.
The study, published in Physiological Reviews, examines how sedentary behaviors negatively impact health, including risks such as high blood pressure, increased body fat, poor vascular function, and elevated blood sugar and insulin levels.
More than just doing sports
The new research goes beyond the often-heard “exercise more” advice and adds nuance: It’s not just about how much you exercise, but how much time you spend sitting.
Professor David Dunstan, director of the Baker Heart and Diabetes Physical Activity Laboratory, suggests that one critical question – “How much time do you spend sitting?” – should be included in any health discussion about physical activity.
“Many of us think that a short walk or jog after a long day of sitting is enough to stay healthy, but that’s a misconception,” Dunstan said.
“The benefits of physical activity are drastically reduced when you spend a lot of time sitting down.”
Break the sedentary time
Dunstan emphasizes the importance of getting physical activity throughout the day, not just working out and thinking you’re done.
“If you’ve been at your desk for nine hours and then go for a jog, the benefits of that run are greatly diminished by the amount of time you’ve been sitting,” he explained.
By disrupting long periods of sitting with short periods of movement, individuals can “restart the body’s engine” and significantly reduce the health risks associated with sedentary behaviors.
A new approach to healthcare
This review aims to change the way healthcare providers talk about physical activity and sedentary behaviors.
The aim is to introduce a more evidence-based risk identification matrix into clinical practice to illustrate how both factors are inextricably linked to health risks.
Dunstan points out that for people who are physically inactive and sedentary for long periods of time, a mere reduction in sedentary time could be a stepping stone to a more active lifestyle.
The message is clear: in the pursuit of better health, sitting less, moving more and exercising is key.
So next time you’re stuck in a chair for hours, remember to get up and move. Your health will thank you.
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For more wellness information, check out recent studies showing that too much of this vitamin can increase the risk of fractures. The results show that this type of exercise can protect your bone health and slow bone aging.
The research results can be found In Physiological reviews.
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