The 'annoying' habit that could help us lose weight and live longer
manchestereveningnews.co.ukMany of us were told to sit still as children – but evidence shows this was bad advice for our health. Fidgeting can off-set the unhealthy effects of sitting for long periods and may even help you live longer, research has shown.
Scientists who analysed data on more than 12,700 British women found that too much time spent sitting still increased the risk of dying. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features But the association did not apply to participants who rated themselves as "moderately or very" fidgety - even those who sat for long periods.
Professor Janet Cade, from the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds, who co-led the study, said: "While further research is needed, the findings raise questions about whether the negative associations with fidgeting, such as rudeness or lack of concentration, should persist if such simple movements are beneficial for our health." Even among adults who are physically active it is possible to spend up to 15 hours a day sitting down, said the researchers.
Breaks in sitting time have previously been shown to improve markers of good health, such as Body Mass Index (BMI) and glucose and insulin responses.
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