Don't be a sitting duck!

Are you guilty of spending hours sitting at your desk and then continuing the sedentary lifestyle on the couch at home? Recent studies have shown that sedentary lifestyles can lead to an increased risk of diabetes, dementia and death from heart disease. But before you start panicking, there's good news! A new study from Columbia University Medical Center has found that you can offset the health risks of sitting with just 5 minutes of physical activity every half hour.

The study recruited volunteers to emulate a typical work day, sitting for 8 hours while hooked up to continuous glucose monitors to measure blood sugar levels and blood pressure. The participants then took walking breaks of varying lengths and frequency, and the researchers found that a 5-minute walk every half-hour was able to offset a lot of the harms of sitting.

Participants who moved for just 5 minutes every half-hour saw blood sugar spikes after a meal reduced by almost 60%. This is a powerful finding and shows that frequent, short bouts of movement can be just as beneficial as longer exercise sessions.

So, next time you feel yourself becoming too sedentary, take a 5-minute walk around the office or add some stairs to your walk to increase the intensity. And if you need some motivation, turn on some music and let the beat prompt you to step up the pace. You may not lose weight with short breaks, but it's a wonderful way to improve your metabolic profile and keep your body healthy.

#health #healthcare #healthy #motivation