Get Up to Get Healthy

Researchers have long studied the benefits of physical activity. Now they’re also focusing on the risks of sitting still. A study published last year found that more time spent sitting translated to a higher risk of death, regardless of whether people exercised. A recent editorial in the British Journal of Sports Medicine says that four hours of sitting can lead to harm. Americans spend more than half their waking hours sitting: in cars, at desks and on couches. Experts recommend frequent breaks, and exercising for brief periods throughout the day.