Replacing Sitting with Moderate Exercise Can Significantly Improve Heart Health, Study Finds

First Study to Assess Impact of Different Daily Movement Patterns on Heart Health

A new study from UCL and the University of Sydney, involving over 15,000 individuals, shows that replacing even a few minutes of daily sitting with moderate exercise can significantly improve heart health.
The research, supported by the British Heart Foundation, is the first to assess how different movement patterns throughout the day are linked to heart health.
The study found that time spent doing moderate-vigorous activity provided the most benefit to heart health, followed by light activity, standing, and sleeping compared with the adverse impact of sedentary behavior.
Replacing 30 minutes of daily sitting or lying time with moderate or vigorous exercise could translate into a 2.4% decrease in BMI, a 2.7% decrease in waist circumference, and a 3.6% decrease in glycated hemoglobin.
The researchers stressed the importance of making enjoyable changes that can be maintained over the long term, such as using a standing desk or incorporating 'activity snacks' into the day.