How to reduce the effects of long sitting

Summary

• A new study suggests that sitting continuously for more than 25 minutes may reduce muscle activity which could be linked to a higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes over time.
• Dr Burkinridge explained that taking regular breaks from sitting may help maintain muscle activity throughout the day.
• For example, someone who spends around 10 hours a day sitting could increase their overall muscle activity by taking short breaks every 25 minutes According to the researchers’ estimate this habit could reduce inactive muscle time during waking hours by around 10 per cent.

AI Generated Summary

Sitting for long periods can affect your health but its effects may begin sooner than many people think.

A new study suggests that sitting continuously for more than 25 minutes may reduce muscle activity which could be linked to a higher risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes over time.

Researchers from Swinburne University of Technology in Australia studied how muscle activity changes during everyday sitting.

Their findings suggest that even small movements and regular breaks may help people stay more active throughout the day.

The study was led by Dr Christian Burkinridge and published in the medical journal npj.