25 minutes of sitting is already harmful to your health

The results showed that continuous sitting for more than 25 minutes leads to a significant decrease in muscle activity. According to the researchers, reduced muscle activity during prolonged periods of immobility is accompanied by impaired blood flow and reduced blood sugar absorption, which in the long term increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

At the same time, the authors note that the nature of sitting is of fundamental importance. More “active” types of sitting activities, such as talking to friends, working at a desk, or driving a car, are accompanied by micro‑contractions of muscles, which causes less harm to the body than passive sitting, for example, watching a movie for several hours. Even minimal movements while sitting are associated by scientists with improved health indicators, including a reduction in waist circumference, a decrease in body mass index, and a reduction in the risk of heart disease.

Regular short breaks can radically change the overall activity statistics. If a person spends about 10 hours a day in a sitting position, interrupting this time with physical activity every 25 minutes can add up to approximately one and a half hours of additional muscle work per day. This corresponds to a 10% reduction in muscle inactivity during the waking period, which directly correlates with an improvement in overall health.

Scientists recommend deliberately planning movement throughout the day, especially if you have a sedentary job and regularly spend time in front of screens. Simple habits, such as regularly drinking water from a small glass that requires frequent getting up to refill it, can have a significant positive impact on preventing the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle.