An hour of activity offsets harmful effects of sitting all day

Numerous studies have shown that sitting at a desk for long periods of time is detrimental to our health, with heart disease and back pain among the biggest risks. New research suggests that at least an hour of physical activity is needed to offset the harmful effects of sitting all day.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) currently recommends 150 minutes of exercise a week. However, an international team of experts looked at data from more than a million people around the world and found that may not be enough to reverse the perils of sitting all day.

The research showed that the risk of dying was 9.9% for those who sat for eight or more hours a day and engaged in little activity, while those who sat four hours a day carried a risk of only 6.8%. What’s more, those who exercised for at least an hour a day but say for eight hours virtually eliminated the increased risk of death.

To get the best effect, the researchers recommend an hour of moderate intensity exercise such as walking or cycling. Lead author Professor Ulf Ekelund from the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences and Cambridge University also says a five-minute break to stand up every hour during work can help lower a person’s risk of negative health affects.

Read the original article at bit.ly/2aztaSb