Heart Health
About 20 minutes of exercise may offset risk of sitting all day
Research we're watching
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Just 22 minutes of brisk walking or similar activity daily may offset the risk of prolonged sitting, new research suggests.
The study was based on health and activity tracker data on nearly 12,000 people ages 50 and older. Researchers linked the participants' data with death registry information over a median of five years.
People who spent more than 12 hours a day sitting were 38% more likely to die during the study period than people who sat for just eight hours a day. But that increased risk of death was only seen in people who got less than 22 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day. The findings were adjusted to account for confounding factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and disease. The study appeared in the November 2023 issue of British Journal of Sports Medicine.
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About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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