Scientists have found: even walks won"t save you from this consequence of sitting

Even daily walks are not always able to neutralize the harm from prolonged sitting — this is the conclusion reached by specialists from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The results of a large-scale study have been published in the journal Nature Communications.

As reported by TUT.AZ with reference to the study, scientists analyzed data from more than 15,000 people who wore fitness trackers over several years. In total, the specialists had at their disposal approximately 13 million days of observations, during which the volunteers' activity levels and time spent without movement were recorded.

The picture revealed by the researchers turned out to be alarming: on average, participants walked about 7,400 steps per day, yet spent nearly 12 hours daily in a seated position. According to foreign experts, this lifestyle is directly linked to an increased risk of a whole range of diseases — obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease, depressive disorders, sleep apnea, and heart problems.

The authors of the study acknowledge that additional physical activity does indeed help reduce the likelihood of a number of conditions. For example, the risk of hypertension and liver disease decreased notably among those who walked around eight thousand steps per day.

However, when it came to ischemic heart disease and heart failure, the results proved far less encouraging. Even the most active study participants maintained an elevated risk if they remained sedentary for extended periods. In the scientists' opinion, prolonged time spent in a seated position poses a serious health threat in itself — and walks alone cannot eliminate it.

Another important finding: excessive exertion is not always beneficial either. The positive effect of increasing the number of steps was observed only up to approximately 12,000 per day, after which health indicators began to worsen again.

The researchers emphasize that maintaining good health requires not only regular movement but also breaking up prolonged sitting as often as possible. According to the specialists, short breaks throughout the workday may prove no less beneficial than the usual daily step goal.