Breaking Up Long Sitting Time

Your leg muscles use sugar when they move. When they work, they pull glucose out of your blood. Think of them as sponges that soak sugar up from the blood.

Sitting for one to four hours can slow that pull. Long stretches of sitting keep your leg muscles still.

After a meal, blood sugar rises for a while. A few minutes on your feet can help soften that rise.

In one study, short walking breaks lowered blood sugar after meals. Each break was about two minutes of light walking, taken every 20 minutes of sitting. Your own results may differ.

Sitting time often hides in ordinary parts of the day. Desk work, screen time and long commutes can add up to hours.

A reminder every 20 to 30 minutes is a simple way to begin. The CDC suggests breaking up sitting about every 30 minutes when possible.

Key takeaways

• Leg muscles pull sugar from the blood when they move.
• Long sitting slows that pull, and it hides in desk work, screens and commutes.
• Short walking breaks every 20 to 30 minutes can help soften the rise after meals.

Try it

Set a reminder for every 20 to 30 minutes, then walk for two minutes when it rings. Ask your care team whether walking breaks suit your health.