Being healthier may be found in something as simple as standing more and sitting less at work, said a study on July 30. Replacing sitting time with standing time appeared to improve sugar, fat and cholesterol levels in the blood, researchers wrote in the European Heart Journal. The findings suggest that making small changes to a sedentary lifestyle can have a big impact on health - and that you don't need to go as far as taking up marathon running.
A study of nearly 800 men and women in Australia revealed a clear association between less sitting and better health markers.
"An extra two hours per day spent standing rather than sitting was associated with approximately two percent lower average fasting blood sugar levels and 11 percent lower average triglycerides (fats in the blood)," said a press statement.
It was also associated with higher levels of "good" cholesterol, HDL.
Replacing two hours of sitting time with actual activity in the form of "stepping" was even better - with lower blood fat and sugar scores as well as an 11 percent lower average Body Mass Index (BMI - a ratio of height to weight) and a 7.5-centimetre (three-inch) smaller average waist circumference.
"These findings provide important preliminary evidence on the potential benefits of standing for cardio-metabolic risk biomarkers," said the study."
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