Move for 3 Minutes, Every Half-Hour, to Counter the Ill Effects of Sitting

"Climbing stairs, doing jumping jacks or even taking as few as 15 steps during mini-breaks improved blood sugar and cholesterol control among office workers.

Sitting for hours at a desk can play havoc with our metabolic health, contributing over time to high blood sugar and high cholesterol, even in people who otherwise seem mostly healthy. But a practical though small new study shows that standing up and moving every 30 minutes for about three minutes may lessen the health impacts of over-sitting. The study found that climbing several flights of stairs, bopping through some jumping jacks or squats or even taking as few as 15 steps during these mini-breaks improved aspects of blood sugar and cholesterol control among office workers, without noticeably interrupting their work flow."