Sitting all day is bad for your health; a new study has discovered a relatively simple way to prevent it.

 Sitting all day is bad for your health; a new study has discovered a relatively simple way to prevent it.

The main concept

Take a five-minute light walk every half-hour to reduce the negative health effects of sitting. That's the significant point of a new study published in the journal Medicine & Science in Sports.

It is discovered that a five-minute light walk every half-hour was the only strategy that significantly reduced blood sugar levels when compared to sitting all day. Five-minute walks every half-hour, in particular, reduced the blood sugar spike after eating by nearly 60%.

When compared to sitting all day, this strategy reduced blood pressure by four to five points. However, shorter and less frequent walks improved blood pressure as well. Every hour, a one-minute light walk reduced blood pressure by five points.

Walking breaks provided mental health benefits in addition to physical health benefits. Using a questionnaire, we asked participants to rate their mental state during the study. In comparison to sitting all day, we discovered that a five-minute light walk every half-hour

Why it is important

People who sit for long periods of time are more likely to develop chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, dementia, and several types of cancer than people who move throughout the day. A sedentary lifestyle also increases the risk of premature death. However, simply exercising every day may not be enough to counterbalance the negative health effects of sitting

For decades, technological advances have steadily increased the amount of time adults in industrialized countries such as the United States spend sitting. Many adults now sit for the majority of the day. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, this problem has only gotten worse. People are less likely to leave the house these days, thanks to the shift to more remote work.. As a result, it is clear that strategies are required to combat a growing public health problem in the twenty-first century.

What is still unknown

The research focused primarily on taking regular light-intensity walking breaks. Some walking strategies, such as one-minute light walks every hour, did not reduce blood sugar levels. 

It is important to note that people with intermittent claudication should not be concerned about walking with leg pain because this pain does not equal harm. Claudication pain is thought to be caused by a lack of blood flow to the exercising muscle. Walking while experiencing claudication pain may stimulate the growth of new blood vessels in the legs and alleviate symptoms over time.

People are advised not to exercise if they feel ill and to seek medical attention if they experience any concerning symptoms while exercising, such as chest pain, dizziness, or sickness.

Exercise, according to our findings, can help manage claudication pain and may slow the progression of atherosclerotic disease throughout the body. In several cases, regular exercise may alleviate claudication pain.

What comes next?

The Evaluation over 25 different ways to reduce the health risks associated with prolonged sitting. Many adults have jobs that require them to walk every half-hour, such as driving trucks or taxis. Finding alternative strategies that produce comparable results that can provide the public with several options, allowing them to choose the strategy that works best for them and their lifestyle.