We know that a sedentary lifestyle is very bad for your health, since it promotes the occurrence of many chronic diseases. Thus, the fact of not moving enough during the day is associated with an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure… According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a sedentary lifestyle would be moreover the 4th leading cause of premature death in the world.
According to a new study from Iowa State University (in the United States), a sedentary lifestyle could also harm our mental health…
The researchers brought together 3,000 participants from 50 US states. They had to answer a questionnaire concerning their physical activity between the months of April and June 2020, but also concerning the state of their mental health.
Limit the “sitting time” during the day as much as possible
Result ? The researchers found that people who did between 2.5 and 5 hours of sport per week before the implementation of containment measures, in March 2020, saw their physical activity decrease by 32% on average. A decrease in physical activity which was accompanied by feelings of loneliness, sadness and anxiety.
After the confinement period, people who were able to resume physical activity saw their mood improve within (on average) 8 weeks. On the other hand, people who kept a significant “sitting time” did not experience this improvement.
“While it is indeed difficult to adopt a new habit (or to kick a habit), a little movement each day is extremely beneficial, both for physical health and for mental health: physical activity fits easily into a busy schedule“conclude the researchers, who published their work in the specialized journal Frontiers in Psychiatry.
Read also :
- How many steps should you take per day?
- 6 stretching exercises with a chair
- We’ve already told you: sitting for more than 7 hours a day is bad for your health
