I was recently sent a post by the Happy Broadcast which had reposted a quote from an article by the independent.
The Independent article itself, titled ‘Just 15 minutes of exercise can undo damage of working at desk all day, study finds’ didn’t contain a link to the study, which is stupid. Unless I didn’t look properly. But anyway.
I really like seeing this kind of thing posted to large audiences. Many people have a completely fucked relationship with fitness, thinking if its not an intense hour in the gym or doing 2 classes back to back its not worth it.
In my experience working with people, I tend to find that setting a lower expectation like 5-10 minutes often leads to people doing more anyway.
Some people, however, were not happy with this post on Instagram.
I think asking for the study to be cited is a valid request. Far too often, science is quoted without nuances or a nod to it’s limitations or measurement methods.
Although saying ‘you heard’ something different doesn’t nullify this information, its likely that different researchers did slightly different things. It’s what we take from this research as a whole that is important.
So what did this study find? And where does it sit in a body of similar studies to date? How did they measure it? And what the fuck does this mean for the lil people like you and me who just want to exercise without it being a big, all consuming, deal?
That’s what this deep dive will aim to uncover.
The paper starts with an introduction, things that we already know.
In 2020, WHO and health bodies from the US and UK recommended against sedentary lifestyles due to their health risks. Implementing these guidelines, particularly in workplaces, poses a challenge due to factors like long commutes and personal responsibilities. Research suggests that 30 to 40 minutes of daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can mitigate the risks of prolonged sitting, but finding time for such activity is often difficult.
This 2024 study explores the impact of workplace sitting on health and the necessary level and intensity of leisure-time physical activity to offset these risks, aiming to equalise health outcomes between those who sit a lot at work and those who don't.
The study design
I am very sorry but there is now a paywall in affect. Reading these papers takes a long time and I can’t work for free. You can either subscribe to Subsnack for the price of a fancy coffee or you can join Snack Pass VIP and get these deep dives included in your membership.