The simple exercise that could offset the harms of sitting all day

Research indicates that walking for just five minutes every hour can counteract the health risks associated with prolonged sitting.

A large study found these brief exercise breaks, dubbed “exercise snacks”, improved participants' mood and reduced fatigue.

The study also concluded that taking these short movement breaks did not negatively impact work performance.

Experts highlight that excessive sedentary behaviour is a significant public health concern, with adults in high-income countries spending over three-quarters of their waking day sitting.

Taking a five-minute break every hour was identified as the optimal balance between achievability and effectiveness for health benefits.