Don’t just sit there! Being sedentary for too long isn’t just bad for your body—it’s bad for your brain, according to recent Australian research.
In the study, men who sat 3 to 6 hours a day were 21 percent more likely to report moderate levels of psychological distress than guys sitting less than 3 hours.
Researchers aren’t sure if being trapped at your desk leads to poor mental health or if stress keeps you chained to your seat, says study author Michelle Kilpatrick, Ph.D. candidate. But just as moving is good for your body and brain, not moving for long periods of time is linked with physical issues—like a higher risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease—and mental ones.
A whopping 80 percent of American workers have jobs that require little or no physical activity, according to recent study from Louisiana State University. That means the average person expends 100 calories less per day than in 1960 (when only 52 percent of the workforce sat to work).
On your behind most of the day? Simply interrupting periods of sitting more often can ease the damage. In fact, a different Australian study found that regular two-minute breaks of light activity could reduce cardiovascular risk. (And if you want to change up your workstation, use our tips to build your own stand-up desk.)
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