Keep Moving to Keep Yourself Alive Longer

In an age where there are so many distractions capable of keeping us on our butts for more hours than we are on our feet, experiencing health problems due to too much sedentary behaviour has become a real issue. So much so, the topic is regularly being studied by those looking to keep humans lean, mean, living machines.

According to a new study from UPenn, turning 10 sedentary minutes per day into 10 minutes of activity can help a person stay alive longer.

For the study, 3,000 adults aged 50-79 were outfitted with an accelerometer so that researchers could keep track of their activity. Each individual was part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control.

Over the course of eight years, researchers monitored the mortality rates of all 3,000 participants. Through this process, it was discovered that the least active people were three times more likely to die during the follow-up period of the study than those who were considered moderately active. That number leapt to five times more likely when measured up against highly active people.

In order to improve one’s lifespan, these researchers don’t recommend devoting hours of your week to an elliptical or a hardcore, lifting weights-centric workout regimen. Rather, it’s suggested that even mundane, low-stress activities like doing the dishes or just walking around can prove beneficial.

Apart from living longer, moving around often during the day is something we should all do for the simple fact that it makes everything feel better. It helps to eliminate stress from the mind, the burning from eyeballs and unnecessary aches and pains that come from remaining stationary for too long.

In the words of Bob Marley: “Get up, stand up!”

-Adam Grant