One Everyday Activity Isn’t Getting Enough Credit: The Cheaper, Healthier Alternative To The Gym

Don’t read this if you think you’ll regret your gym membership…

Scientists have found that long periods of walking could actually be better for you than high intensity exercise.

Low intensity exercise improves insulin sensitivity and blood lipid levels at a better rate than an hour long high octane workout, according to a study published in journal PLOS ONE.

These levels of insulin sensitivity and blood lipids are indicators of diabetes and obesity.  

Researchers divided teenagers into three groups: one sat for 14 hours doing no exercise, the second sat for 13 hours but did an hour of exercise and the final group sat for six hours and walked for four and stood for two.

The energy used was the same, but cholesterol and lipid levels were improved in the group that exercised over a longer period.

Take the steps instead...

Dr Hans Savelberg, from Maastricht University in Holland, who led the study, said: “One hour of daily physical exercise cannot compensate for the negative effects of inactivity on insulin sensitivity and plasma lipids if the rest of the day is spent sitting.

“Reducing inactivity by low intensity activities such as walking at a leisurely pace and standing is more effective than physical exercise in improving these parameters in sedentary subjects.

“Our study suggests that in addition to health interventions that stress the importance of spending enough energy to maintain a neutral energy balance, a minimal daily amount of non-sitting time should also be promoted.”

The key to a healthy you? Make sure you stay on your feet for as long as possible. Skip the bus and walk, skip the lift and take the stairs…