Targeting exercise doesn't reduce effects of prolonged sitting

Washington D.C.: A new study has found that targeting physical activity and increasing the level of exercise doesn't make any great difference to reduce prolonged sitting, rather one should concentrate on decreasing the sitting time.

The research conducted by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London examined the strategies that had been used to reduce prolonged sitting and observed that one who followed to reduce their sitting time had 60 percent more benefits in prolonged sitting compared to ones who didn't reduce their sitting time and faced only 39 percent.

The researchers explained that some of the promising interventions could be like the provision of sit-stand desks at work, encouraging people to keep records of their own sitting time, setting individual goals for limiting sitting time, and using prompts and cues to remind people to stop them sitting.

Dr Benjamin Gardner at King's College London, said that their findings will be of interest to researchers and practitioners designing new ways to reduce prolonged sitting, as well as to anyone looking to improve their health by reducing their own sitting time in their day-to-day lives.

The study suggested that sitting time should be viewed as a separate behaviour change target to physical activity.

Previous studies and reviews have shown that higher levels of sitting are linked with cancer, diabetes, heart disease and even an early death, independently of whether a person takes regular exercise.

The research is published in the journal Health Psychology Review.