If you do one thing this week . . . Take active breaks from prolonged sitting

A NEW study in Australia found that when overweight people took active breaks every 20 minutes from prolonged sitting, their levels of glucose and insulin were lower after a meal.

The research, carried out at Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute and published in Diabetes Care, involved 19 overweight or obese participants aged 45 to 65.

“In a controlled laboratory environment that mimicked the typical patterns of desk-bound office workers, participants who interrupted their sitting time with regular activity breaks showed up to 30 per cent improvement in the body’s response to a meal containing glucose,” said researcher Prof David Dunstan in a release that included tips for office-based workers.

“Just standing up regularly, walking to the printer, using the stairs instead of an elevator and standing while on the phone are all likely to deliver a benefit.”