To stay healthy, try sitting less instead of exercising more, study suggests
From ctvnews.ca
Prolonged sitting has been associated with adverse health effects that are only minimally neutralized by exercise, and a new study says aiming for less time spent sitting is the best way to stay healthy.
In the study, thought to be the first to explore strategies to conquer what has become a serious public health concern, the research team worked with data from 38 previous intervention trials.
Sixty per cent, or 23, of the trials appeared promising in relation to the remaining 39 per cent, or 15.
More promising ideas included providing workers with sit-stand desks, encouraging people to keep track of how much time they spend sitting, setting personal goals for reducing sitting time and setting reminders to remind us to take a break.
All of these methods had proven themselves to be successful on their own and, what's more, none of them involve reminding people to exercise.
Other effective methods included informing people of the health benefits that could arise from spending less time sitting.
"The importance of this study is not in showing that interventions can work, but in pointing out how they might work," says co-author Professor Stuart Biddle of Victoria University in Australia. "This is crucial if behavior is to be achieved more efficiently and effectively."
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