Short bursts of activity throughout the day help people with sedentary jobs stay in shape without hitting the gym, reports infohub.kz.
The concept of short workouts involves performing brief, intense exercises during everyday tasks. This could include squats between work calls, push-ups, or carrying heavy bags up the stairs. Such actions help break up long periods of sitting, but experts warn they cannot fully replace traditional workouts.
According to Dr. Michael Fredericson from Stanford University, three to four bursts of high activity per day improve overall tone and stabilize blood sugar levels. However, they do not provide the same benefits for lowering blood pressure, cholesterol, or weight loss as full-fledged exercise. Professor Jonathan Little from the University of British Columbia added that four minutes of such exercise per day is especially beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes, as muscles absorb glucose more actively.
Expert Joe Blodgett from University College London notes that even a half-hour gym session does not compensate for 23 hours of sedentary lifestyle. To mitigate the harm of desk jobs, specialists recommend moving every 15-30 minutes. This helps combat the effects of inactivity for those who lack time for the gym.