Taking short breaks from sitting, even for only one minute, might whittle your waistline and improve your heart health, according to a new study.
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, said study researcher Genevieve Healy, who studies population health at the University of Queensland in Australia.
And a smaller waistline means less abdominal fat and better heart health, Healy said.
"A high waist circumference is associated with an increased risk for type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease," she told MyHealthNewsDaily.
When we stand, the large muscles in our legs and the back are continually contracting to maintain our posture, but when we sit or recline, these muscle groups are basically inactive, Healy said.
"So even short breaks from sitting get these large muscle groups contracting," she said.
The study will be published tomorrow (Jan. 12) in the European Heart Journal.