Short breaks from sitting good for heart, waistline

According to the study published in the Jan. 12 issue of the journal 'European Heart Journal,' taking regular breaks between work not only cuts the risk of heart diseases, but also helps in attaining a slimmer waist.

Even breaks, as short as a minute, like standing for phone calls, climbing stairs, or talking to other employees might play an important role in benefiting heart and metabolic health.

"A break could be as short as one minute and not necessarily entail 'exercise', suggesting that regular breaks from sedentary time are probably feasible in many contexts," the study authors stated.

Study details
In order to evaluate the possible relation between taking short breaks while working and heart health, Dr Genevieve Healy of The University of Queensland, in Australia, and her colleagues conducted a study.

For this purpose, the research team examined 4,757 people, aged 20 years and older who had participated in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2003 and 2006.

All the participants were required to wear accelerometer, a device used to measure proper acceleration, on their right hip for seven days during their waking hours to monitor their walking or running activity.

In addition, the researchers analyzed participants' waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood fats.

They also took into account socio-demographic and lifestyle differences.

Study findings
The study found that those who took maximum number of breaks reported higher levels of "good" (HDL) cholesterol, lower levels of triglycerides (blood fat), and C-reactive protein, which leads to blocked arteries.

Such participants gradually exhibited smaller waist-size and lower levels of a blood marker linked to inflammation, the researchers noted.

“People in the study who took the most breaks from sitting — up to 1,258 short breaks in one week — were about two pant sizes smaller than those who took the fewest, as few as 99 breaks in one week,” Healy averred.

Conversely, participants who sat down for longer hours without taking a single break showed larger waist circumference and decreased levels of good HDL cholesterol.

The study findings were independent of the physical exercise, ranging from moderate to vigorous, undertaken by the participants.

Dr. Healy added, "Our research showed that even small changes, which could be as little as standing up for one minute, might help to lower this health risk.

"It is likely that regular breaks in prolonged sitting time could be readily incorporated into the working environment without any detrimental impact on productivity, although this still needs to be determined by further research.

"'Stand up, move more, more often' could be used as a slogan to get this message across."