Why You Need to Get Off Your Butt Right Now
New research reveals just about any movement battles the deadly effects of sitting around
Your brain and body suffer and your life is likely to be shorter if you sit around too much. We all know that. But exercise is, well, hard. Good news: A daily dose of physical activity of just about any sort — from gardening or dancing to walking or active sports — can significantly counteract those negative effects, a new study finds.
The new research, detailed in a special issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine, provide the basis for updated recommendations on physical activity from the World Health Organization (WHO) that aim to encourage everyone, including children, pregnant women and people with chronic conditions or disabilities to move more, for at least a measly half-hour each day.
The benefits are far-reaching:
“Regular physical activity is key to preventing and helping to manage heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and cancer, as well as reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, reducing cognitive decline, improving memory and boosting brain health,” according to a WHO statement. “Being physically active is critical for health and well-being — it can help to add years to life and life to years,” says WHO Director-General Dr…
