Research in Canada has found what we already know, sitting down for a large portion of the day is having a negative effect on health. Studies of sedentary behaviour suggest that sitting for extended periods of time increase a person’s chances of developing a wide range of illnesses and diseases, including several types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, obesity and Type II diabetes.
Dr. Mark Tremblay,director of healthy active living and obesity research at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute said "We’re talking extensively and producing public health messages about what we don’t do. And we don’t talk at all about what we do do: We don’t move very much, but we do sit idle".
The average person now spends 9.3 hours a day sitting. People who sit for six or more hours per day are 40 per cent more likely to die within 15 years compared to someone who sits less than three hours a day, even if they exercise. Obese people sit 2½ hours more each day than people of normal weight, according to data compiled by American researchers Medical Billing and Coding.
The original article has a lot more on this and can be found here.
So, it looks like getting up and moving about has been yet again proved to be an answer to not just obesity but a few other physical problems. It really doesn't have to be that hard to add exercise into your day. If you are very busy then try to split your activities throughout the day. Brisk walking or cycling for 10 - 15 mins in the morning (preferably somewhere without roads to cross or traffic lights to wait at) another brisk walk before lunch and another before going home. Splitting up your sedentary sitting times. If you are at your desk for more than an hour, then go for a walk up and down some stairs, if your office is on one level, then try to just do a few squats from time to time (situps and pushups optional).
If you constantly feel too tired to do any of this and don't have a very physical job then it is more important to try a bit each day as healthy humans should be able to move about without feeling lethargic all the time.
Later in the new year I will be posting some 'how to' exercises to keep you healthy, so bookmark the blog and keep checking.
You can always contact me at the main website.
Stay Healthy!
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