Research related to exercise over the past decade has been consistently clear about one thing—the more we exercise, the lower our risk for nearly all diseases. I like this simple phrase, “The more we move, the more we improve.”

Sedentary behavior has a deeper physiological impact on our bodies than we previously thought.

This doesn’t mean that just spending an hour a day at the gym counts. A report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that sedentary behavior may diminish or nearly eliminate the benefits we get from even an hour of daily exercise.

The American College Of Sports Medicine (ACSM) also highlights research on sedentary behavior. “At the basic-science level, it appears that there are unique physiological processes and pathways associated with sedentary behavior, particularly prolonged sitting,” said Neville Owen, PhD, the lead presenter of the study. “These are some promising studies that point to what is likely to be a unique ‘sedentary physiology,’ which is distinct from what is known about the physiological processes generated by working muscle.”

Science is showing us that it’s not just about burning calories and elevating our heart rates. It’s about our overall way of living and moving. It’s just as important to break up periods of sitting and inactivity, even if it’s a minute or five to stretch or walk around.

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