The Benefits Of Exercise Depend On The Hours Spent Sitting

The most comprehensive review of the effects of sedentary behavior on health and risk of death has intensified the call to reduce time spent being sedentary as well as increasing physical activity.

The study determines that the physiological evidence now available should be used to sharpen public health and clinical practice guidelines to extend beyond just the broadly prescribed message to exercise more, and to move towards a more comprehensive message of "sit less, move more and exercise."

So many of us think that if we go for a short walk, a jog, or do a session at the gym after a day sitting at our desks that we're doing as much as we need to for good health, but it's not the case. That's because the benefits of those physical activities depend on how much time you spend sitting.

If, for example, you sat at your desk for hours, but then went out for a jog after work, yes, you'd certainly gain some health benefits from that run, but the nine hours seated during the day drags those health benefits down.