"The groundwork of all happiness is health." - Leigh Hunt

Exercise as an antidote to excessive sitting?

The research we're taking a look at.

Photo: Tyler Olson/iStock

Can an hour of brisk walking counteract the negative features of sitting for a lot of the day? Maybe, in accordance with a study published online on July 27, 2016 The Lancet.

Previous research has linked physical inactivity and excessive sitting to an increased risk of heart disease and early death. The latest study analyzed data from 13 studies that included greater than 1 million adults, mostly age 45 and older.

The researchers found that when it comes to mortality, sitting for greater than eight hours a day and exercising too little (about five minutes a day) was as dangerous as smoking or obesity. But 60 to 75 minutes of moderate activity a day, equivalent to brisk walking or cycling, offsets the increased risk of death in individuals who sit for greater than eight hours a day.

Such studies, which follow people over time, cannot prove cause and effect, since it isn’t possible to account for the various aspects that affect an individual's risk of dying. But the outcomes are reminder to avoid sitting an excessive amount of and be more lively.

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