Sitting all day is bad for your health. The large muscles that support your spine, hips, and legs are not active when you’re seated. But when you move them, they generate beneficial molecules that can promote health. Additionally, working skeletal muscles produce electrical activity, which turns on healthy things inside of your muscles.
The study also found that a small amount of exercise every hour made a big difference in the bodies of the subjects. The exercise caused more fat to be burned, and it reduced triglycerides in the blood. But it wasn’t enough to counteract the effects of sitting all day. While the study was small, the results are clear. A few minutes of exercise every hour can help you undo the effects of sitting for long periods of time.
Many Americans sit for more than eight hours a day, and 40 percent of them don’t engage in any form of physical activity. This sedentary lifestyle has been linked to several health issues, including higher blood pressure and a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Moreover, people who sit for a long time have a greater risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which is a precursor to heart attacks and stroke.
The Mayo Clinic recommends a moderate amount of physical activity to offset the negative effects of sitting all day. A study of 3,500 black people found that people who watched television for an extended period were at a higher risk of developing heart disease. It also found that people who participated in moderate levels of physical activity had a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
It’s easy to forget that sitting all day can undo your workout efforts. According to the study, a daily exercise of thirty to forty minutes a day can help offset the harmful effects of a sedentary lifestyle. However, you need more than thirty minutes to be healthy.
