Most people spend hours upon hours sitting at their computer, or in front of a TV screen, and all that sitting around just isn’t good for your health. But it turns out, according to a new study, it doesn’t take all that much to start reversing the effects of all that sitting.
While sitting for hours can contribute, over time, to things like high blood sugar, Type 2 Diabetes, and high cholesterol, according to a study out of Sweden and published in "The American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism," standing up and moving every 30 minutes for as little as three minutes can help counter the negative effects sitting has on one’s health.
The study says such mini-breaks, which include things like climbing stairs, doing some squats or jumping jacks, or even just taking as few as 15 steps, can be beneficial for improving things like blood sugar control, without interrupting work too much. But, the study warns, these three-minute mini-breaks are the minimum amount of movement needed to improve your metabolic health, and they shouldn’t be the only measures people take when it comes to cutting back on time sitting.
The authors of the study suggest two things that can help people who may be concerned over sitting too much. First, download an app or set an alarm to remind you to get up every half-hour, and then walk a few minutes. Also, when not working, do your best to keep moving. Try to take the stairs instead of the elevator, or get off a bus stop early, just to get a little more walking in.
Source: New York Times
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