Sitting is the new smoking, even more than lying down? Wow.
This crazy cardiology study suggests that replacing sedentary behavior with any other behavior is better for your heart and waistline.
In other words, sit less, move more. Or stand more. Or sleep more.
Just do anything to stop sitting more.
Replacing 30 minutes of sitting a day with equal time standing or even sleeping (lying down is better than sitting, wow) could improve obesity markers like body weight and waist circumference, according to a new cross-sectional study investigating the impact of movement behavior on cardio-metabolic health.
How we move, matters.
How much we avoid sitting, matters.
Increasing physical activity to 150 minutes a week has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by 17% and type 2 diabetes by 26%.
Other studies suggest that even modest increases in physical activity can be beneficial.
A prospective study published last month found that even short activity bouts of a few minutes a day may lower risks for heart attack, stroke, and early death.
Just standing up from your desk at your cubicle or home and jogging in place for a minute, or supporting yourself on the kitchen counter and going up and down on your toes… ALL help keep you healthier.
Implications
If your or a loved one or a patient is struggling to exercise or is unable to exercise because of health or ability restrictions, help them find ways to add a lighter activity to their day, such as taking the stairs or walking briskly to catch the bus, or even have them lie down more or go to bed earlier.
Anything but sitting. Wow..
How do you incorporate movement into your daily life?
Dr. B.
Reference:
Sleeping Beats Sitting? What a New Study Means for Your Patients - Medscape - Nov 15, 2023.