Wyou have a million things on your plate and sweat just one of them — it’s easy (and even normal) to check out that run or Barry’s class leaving early in the morning and never think about it again. But new research indicates that people who exercise for 30 minutes a day and then stay at their desks for 10 to 12 hours afterward may be what researchers call a “go potato.” active splash”, or those who consider themselves fit but actually face some major health risks.
Research, published in Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports Medicine, reviewed seven consecutive days of data from 3,702 46-year-olds in the Northern Finland Cohort wearing hip accelerometers. The researchers sought to understand how certain exercise affected participants’ heart muscle health, which looked at the collective health risks associated with body mass index (BMI), blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure and history of cardiovascular disease.
At the end of the study, the researchers could divide the participants into 4 categories: active couch potato, sedentary light exercise, sedentary exercise, and sedentary. Of all the people, 1,173 “active couch potatoes” who exercised briefly every day 10 to 12 hours before starting work showed elevated blood sugar and cholesterol (two signs predictors of heart disease and stroke). Meanwhile, “athletes” who exercised for about an hour a day plus two hours of light exercise afterwards had the best cardiovascular stats.
“[This is an] Maillard Howell, Reebok’s fitness director, said that while the majority of previous studies have only looked at activity tracking, this study looked at pure movement “. NEAT and non-exercise movement. .”
NEAT, or non-exercise active thermogenesis, refers to the energy needed to do things other other than sleeping, eating, or exercising. “That additional non-exercise activity benefit was highest at about 80 to 90 minutes per day. So think, take it on the train in the morning, walk to the coffee truck in the middle of the day, or take the stairs,” Howell said.
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If you’re currently in the “active couch potato” group, know that you’re not alone. “This is pretty common,” says Howell. “I’ve trained professionals over the years, from writers, administrative staff, and company directors, who most spend most of their day sitting behind or before meeting me in a meeting. their training.” He adds that depending on your job, you may have minimal chances of getting blood circulating. For example, if you’re a secretary, bank teller, or Uber driver, it might be harder for you to find NEAT in your everyday life.
Howell’s offer? Do your best. “Get on your NEAT by taking the stairs, taking a quick walk after lunch and dinner, or relaxing gently at your desk,” he says. “These are all things I do on my own every day to help augment the benefits of my actual 30-minute workout.” Even if it means doing a few push-ups during your bathroom break, know that you’re making great strides in self-care.
