A sedentary lifestyle is associated not only with a higher risk of early death and also an increased risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
If you’re like one of the millions of people in a sedentary job or lifestyle, you may wonder how to counteract the negative health impacts of sitting many hours per day. Well, new research suggests that 30-40 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise per day can help offset the increased risk of premature death.
A meta-analysis of over 44,000 people published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine followed participants for 4-14 years across 4 different countries. The middle-aged and older participants were sedentary for an average of 8.5-10.5 hours per day and engaged in moderate-to-vigorous intensity exercise an average of 8-35 minutes per day. Risk of death was increased by 65% in the group that was most sedentary combined with the least amount of exercise (95% CI).
Physical activity guidelines recommend that adults participate in 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week, or roughly 20-40 minutes per day, or 75-150 minutes of vigorous exercise per week.
What are your favorite ways to get moving throughout the day? We are always looking for creative ways to break up the day… share your tips with us!