We have all been hearing how sitting for hours due to work or any sedentary activity is not the greatest thing. In fact, as per a study done by the European Heart Journal, it was noted that doing even light to moderate exercise every day by replacing it with sitting could be good for your heart health.?
In this said research, UCL researchers examined data derived from six studies involving 15,246 individuals across five countries. The aim was to explore the connection between daily movement patterns and heart health, as assessed through six commonly used indicators. Each participant employed a thigh-mounted wearable device to monitor their activity continuously over 24 hours, alongside heart health assessments.
The study unveiled different behaviours constituting a standard 24-hour day. Notably, engaging in moderate-vigorous activity demonstrated the greatest positive impact on heart health, followed by light activity, standing, and sleeping, in contrast to the detrimental effects associated with sedentary behaviour.
The researchers simulated what would happen if a person swapped different activities throughout the day for one week to see how it would affect their heart health. They found that even a small change, like replacing five minutes of sitting with moderate-vigorous activity, had a positive impact on the heart.
For instance, consider a 54-year-old woman with an average BMI of 26.5. If she replaced 30 minutes of sedentary time with exercise, her BMI could decrease by 0.64, which is a 2.4% difference. Similarly, swapping 30 minutes of sitting or lying down with moderate or vigorous exercise could lead to a 2.5 cm (2.7%) reduction in waist circumference or a 1.33 mmol/mol (3.6%) decrease in glycated haemoglobin. This shows that even small changes in daily activities can make a meaningful difference in heart health.
About the said research?Dr Jo Blodgett, first author of the study from UCL Surgery & Interventional Science and the Institute of Sport, Exercise & Health mentioned that while making any change instead of sitting is good for the heart, the intensity of the movement still matters. This means that moderate to vigorous exercise is much better for the heart. Going for a brisk walk, running or even climbing the stairs can be great for cardiovascular health.?
So, get up and take a walk. What harm can it do??