To Your Health
October, 2023 (Vol. 17, Issue 10) |
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Movement Is Life
By Editorial Staff
Movement is life: It's an often-repeated phrase in health and wellness circles these days, particularly with physical activity increasingly losing to sedentary activity, namely mindless screen time.
Movement is life – and it doesn't require you to spend hours in a gym or hit the open road for hour-long runs every day. It's as easy as spending more time moving – even via common activities you do every day.
Case in point: Even among people who do not exercise during their leisure time, brief periods (fewer than 10 minutes at a time) of non-exercise activity – the kind of activity people typically engage in as part of their daily routine – improve cardiovascular health and reduce mortality risk. It doesn't even take 10 minutes to make a difference; even activities that last for less than one minute can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events if vigorous movement is a feature of the activity. Researchers arrived at these conclusions by examining accelerometer data from 100,000-plus adults, with findings published in Lancet Public Health.
You're probably thinking, What's non-exercise activity during leisure time? It means activity you do that a) isn't a part of your job (as would be the case if you are a carpenter, fitness trainer, etc.); and b) isn't an activity that could be considered exercise (jogging, lifting weights, etc.). Unloading the dishwasher? Mowing the lawn? Folding the laundry? Cleaning out the garage? All of those activities and more qualify as non-exercise, leisure-time movement. Depending on your level of exertion, they could be considered vigorous movement.
We'll repeat it: Movement is life. Find more ways to move every day (and sit less; another popular phrase these days: Sitting is the new smoking). You'll be healthier and happier – a win-win you deserve to enjoy! Talk to your doctor for additional information.
