General

Get Up, part 2

Scott M. wanted to know how often you should get up:

I called Marc Hamilton, one of the authors of the report to find out the answer, and here’s what he said:

“The simple answer is that we aren’t really sure how often you need to get up. Certainly more than once an hour. Try and take frequent breaks during your work day. And don’t sit when you don’t have to.”

Dr. Hamilton says he takes his phone calls standing up, but this isn’t always a viable option, depending on your work space.

Another question raised was whether you need to walk or merely stand in order to starve off fat and related diseases. Well, walking burns more calories than standing, says Hamilton. But merely standing is enough to trigger the fat reducing enzyme lipase, so don’t feel obligated to pace. It’s enough just to get up.

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