How an Hour of Exercise Can Undo a Day of This Unhealthy Habit
By Ruth Kinane
It's not news that sitting all day isn't the best for physical health. Thankfully, Mayo Clinic has found how to make up for the damage. In a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researchers at the UT Southwestern Medical Center revealed that just one hour of physical exercise a day could reverse the negative impact of being sedentary for up to 7 hours a day. Photo by Getty Images
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Even with the powerful effect of one hour of physical activity, another new study published in American Journal of Medicine reports that Americans are exercising significantly less than they used to. Compared to 20 years ago, the amount of U.S. men who report doing no physical exercise has increased from 11% to 43%. The number is equally as drastic for women, which went from 19% to 54%. Not surprisingly, the average BMI shot up too, but calorie intake stayed the same.
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Although other data shows that calorie intake has increased an average of 500 calories a day, the dramatic decrease in exercise and the increase of BMI could mean that weight gain is more connected to the lack of physical exercise than to consuming more calories. In other words, if you want to lose weight, don't put more focus on calories than you do to exercise.
Those with sit-down jobs can still reap the heart-health benefits of an hour of exercise without taking 60 minutes out of the day. Try small and subtle at-desk exercises, quick workouts during your lunch break and be sure to take the stairs whenever possible. It'll add up!
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