One Hour of Exercise Can Offset Prolonged Sitting

A typical day for many people includes at least 8 hours of sitting - driving to work, sitting in an office, driving home, and watching TV. An international study of more than 1 million people shows that one hour of moderate physical activity can eliminate the health risks associated with sedentary behavior. The study forms the first part of a four-paper series published by The Lancet that provides an overview and update of worldwide trends of physical activity and the global impact of physical inactivity. The first series observing physical activity was released in 2012 ahead of the Summer Olympic Games. The study authors caution that there has been little progress in tackling the global pandemic of physical activity since the 2012 Olympics, with a quarter of adults worldwide failing to meet physical activity recommendations. In the analysis, the researchers posed the question: Does exercise reduce or eradicate the harmful effects - including increased risk of early death - that are associated with prolonged sitting? Health risks that are linked to physical inactivity include an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers, with recent estimates suggesting that more than 5 million people die each year globally due to failing to meet daily activity levels. Total worldwide cost of physical inactivity at least $67.5 billion Findings from the second part of the series - a world-first study to estimate the economic burden of physical inactivity...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news