An editorial that was recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that people who sit for extended periods of time, either at work or in front of the TV/computer, have a higher risk of disease than those who move around more. They defined “sedentary” behavior as a lack of whole-body muscle movement as opposed to a lifestyle without exercise.

Recent research has indicated that sitting in front of the TV for hours at a time increases risk of premature death from heart disease. Women’s risk for the metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, increases 26% for every extra hour of sitting in front of the TV. Whole-body muscle inactivity is also associated with obesity and possibly some types of cancer.

So it is true that taking the stairs instead of the elevator or parking your car further away and walking the extra steps is actually beneficial. Next time you need to talk to a co-worker, take a walk to his/her desk instead of sending an email or walk into the bank or restaurant instead of using the drive-thru. All extra activity counts and may actually help you live a healthier life!!

For more healthy tips visit www.heart-strong.com.