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For years experts have been warning that sitting and being stationary for too long raises the risk of health issues like type 2 diabetes, weight gain and even cancer. Now a new study from Australia breaks down exactly how long we should be sitting, sleeping, standing and exercising to have, and keep, a healthy heart.
- For the study, researchers analyzed data from over 23-hundred participants with an average age of 60.
- Their activity was tracked for eight days using a wearable monitor to determine how much time was spent sitting, standing and sleeping.
- Researchers compared health markers of participants, including glucose and insulin levels and waist circumference.
So how long should we spend on our feet or in our chairs? According to the study, in 24 hours:
- We should sit for just six hours
- We should be standing for five hours and 10 minutes
- We should sleep for eight hours and 20 minutes
- Two hours and 10 minutes should be spent on light physical activity - like doing chores around the house and making dinner.
- And we should be doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity for another two hours and 10 minutes.
“Of course, moving as much as you can is always encouraged when so much of life requires us to be sitting in front of screens,” explains study author Dr. Christian Brakenridge. “Shorter sitting time and more time spent standing, undergoing physical activity and sleeping give great boosts to our cardiometabolic health.”
Read the article at Daily Mail