Everyday activities such as simple household chores may help counteract the negative health effects of long sedentary periods, according to new findings from the American Council on Exercise released in December.
The council commissioned a research team from Western State Colorado University’s High Altitude Exercise Physiology Program to identify the optimal frequency, intensity and length of time spent moving to improve cardiometabolic health among middle-age and older adults.
After a week spending just five minutes each hour on low-to-moderate standing activities, such as folding laundry, washing dishes or standing while reading, research participants saw increases in HDL and triglycerides as well as a reduction in blood sugar. Similar results were also identified after more intense 10-minute bouts of activitiy every two hours.
Other activities that participants performed, also while standing, included getting dressed, working at a desk and even singing.
Thirteen adults who each had one or more cardiometabolic disorders, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar, participated in the research. They took part in exercise programs with a one-week break in between each program, during which participants resumed their normal lifestyles.
Similar results were also identified after the more intense ten-minute bouts of activity.
