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Reducing Your Daily Sitting Time By Just One Hour Can Help Prevent These Diseases

One can achieve several health benefits just by reducing sedentary time and increasing light physical activity.

Written by Longjam Dineshwori | Updated : May 11, 2022 3:31 PM IST

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Cut You Sitting Time

How many hours do you sit daily? Reducing your sitting time by just one hour can protect you from many lifestyle diseases, reveals a new study. The study by researchers from the Turku PET Centre and the UKK Institute in Finland included sedentary and physically inactive working-age adults, who have greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The participants were divided into two groups: intervention group (who was guided to reduce their sitting time by one-hour per day through increasing standing and light-intensity physical activity) and control group (who was instructed to maintain their usual habits and sedentary lifestyle.) In the three-month period, the intervention group experienced improved health outcomes related to blood sugar regulation, insulin sensitivity and liver health.

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Replace Sedentary Time With Light Physical Activity Like Standing

Doctoral candidate Taru Garthwaite from the University of Turku in Finland noted that one can achieve several health benefits just by reducing the time spent sitting and increasing the amount of even light-intensity physical activity. For many, this may be an easier starting point than increasing actual exercise, said Garthwaite. However, only reducing sedentary time may not be enough to prevent diseases if you have several risk factors of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. While reducing the time spent sitting might still slow down the development of these diseases, one can gain greater benefits by increasing the amount or intensity of physical activity in addition to sitting less, added Garthwaite.  Also Read - How effective is bariatric surgery for weight loss? Find out who benefits the most

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Risk Factors Of Diabetes And Cardiovascular Diseases

Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are the most common chronic diseases globally. Being overweight, which is caused by physical inactivity and unhealthy diet, and metabolic disorders often associated with it can increase the risk of developing these diseases.

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Weekly Physical Activity Recommendations For Adults

It is well known fact that regular exercise helps in weight management and disease prevention. Adults are encouraged to meet the weekly recommendation of 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity exercise, but many of us spent most time of the day sitting.