An eight year study, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, involving 7999 participants aged over 45, who wore activity monitors for four days to track and record their sitting and exercise, has determined that by swapping just half an hour of sitting for any type of activity slashes the risk of early death by up to a third!! Wow!!
Low intensity movement, such as walking, leads to a 17% drop, while moderate to vigorous activity, such as a spin class or run, is twice as effective at 35%.
The team from Columbia University Irving Medical Centre, in New York, claimed that even bursts of just a minute or two provides additional benefits.
"Our findings underscore an important public health message that physical activity of any intensity, and any length of time, can provide significant health benefits. If you have a job or lifestyle that involves a lot of time sitting down, you can lower your risk of early death, by moving more often, for as long as you want and as your ability allows. The greater the intensity, the greater the benefit."
It is reported that one in four adults can spend as much as ten hours a day sitting down - and that increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancers.
One of HMHB's core values is to increase the amount of exercise people do in a week, as well as provide awareness of why it is beneficial. We need to provide opportunities for people to move more together as a group, as people are more likely to enjoy it, as well as move for longer.
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