The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates around 2 million Trusted Source deaths each year are linked to physical inactivity. The institution has described a sedentary lifestyle as being among the 10 leading causes of death and disability in the world.
The number of people leading sedentary lifestyles is increasing due to a rise in occupational sedentary behaviors, such as office work, and increased use of electronic devices.
An estimated 60–85% of people in the world and nearly two-thirds of children lead sedentary lifestyles.
Researchers and health experts are committed to finding ways to mitigate the harmful effects of prolonged sitting.
A new study from Columbia University in New York suggests that regular bursts of short exercise “snacks” throughout the working day might be enough to counter the effects of a sedentary lifestyle.
Specifically, the researchers found that a 5-minute walk every 30 minutes could offset the effects of prolonged sitting.
The work was published on Jan. 12 in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. Studies have also shown people who lead a sedentary lifestyle are also at higher risk of developing mental health disorders. On the flipside, people who exercise Trusted Source tend to report better mental health.
Reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity a matter of public health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source recommends that adults aim to sit less throughout the day.
The Physical Trusted Source A Trusted Sourcectivity Guidelines for Americans Trusted Source state that adults should engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity every week combined with 2 days of strength training.
Yet regardless of how physically active you are, studies have shown that prolonged sitting can still increase your risk of serious health complications.
To help reduce those risks, researchers and health experts recommend getting up from your desk often and moving around.
The researchers found that participants’ blood sugar and blood pressure levels were reduced after 5 minutes of walking for every 30 minutes of sitting.
