Simple movement will not only help to curtail aches and pains, it’s now been proven to offer better control of blood sugar levels. A recent study by Gao, et al. (2024), reveals that interrupting prolonged sitting with short bursts of movement can significantly improve blood sugar control.
This study examined the blood sugar levels of 18 men over 8.5 hours and how these levels were affected by movement after a meal. Blood sugar levels were measured continuously during uninterrupted sitting — think “couch potato” — and then again with interruptions in sitting, with short bursts of muscle activity.
There were several activities which the researchers measured:
— 3 minutes of walking every 45 minutes
— 30 minutes of walking every 45 minutes
— squatting for 10 times every 45 minutes
In fact, a 3-minute walk resulted in lower blood sugar levels when compared to a 30-minute walk! These benefits appear to be associated with increased muscle activity in key muscle groups like the quadriceps and gluteals. “Collectively, short, frequent walking or squatting breaks effectively enhance glycemic control in overweight and obese men compared to a single bout of walking within prolonged sitting.”
What else can simple movement do? It clears out the fuzz!
Research
Gao, Y., Li, Q., Finni, T., & Pesola, A. (2024). Enhanced muscle activity during interrupted sitting improves glycemic control in overweight and obese men. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.
Additional Information
Exercise and stress: Get moving to manage stress | Mayo Clinic
How simply moving benefits your mental health | Harvard
