By Elizabeth Barker
Even if you set aside time to work out each week, staying sedentary for most of the day may boost your odds of developing major diseases. In a recent research review, University of Missouri scientists found that people who exercise regularly but spend most of their time glued to a chair may face increased risk for diabetes, obesity and fatty liver disease (an increasingly common condition that can lead to inflammation and liver damage).
Physical inactivity is the key cause of metabolic diseases among people in the United States, according to the review’s authors. To achieve a more active lifestyle, lead author John Thyfault, Ph.D., recommends aiming for 10,000 steps per day (the equivalent of about five miles). Shown to not only improve metabolic health, taking 10,000 steps daily has also been found to fight heart disease and enhance psychological well-being.
In addition to squeezing several quick walking sessions into each day, try pacing while you chat on the phone, scheduling walk-and-talk meetings, avoiding drive-thru services, parking on the far side of the lot, and climbing stairs instead of taking the elevator.
