Warning: Working at a Desk? You Might Be at Risk

Office workers, this research is for you: At least an hour of physical activity is required for every 8 hours of desk work to mitigate the damage of prolonged sitting, according to a new study conducted in the UK and published in the 'Guardian'.

The study is based on data collected over a period of up to 18 years and involved over a million people over the age of 45. The researchers concluded that office work without physical activity increases the risk of death.

The findings indicate that people who sit for eight hours a day without engaging in physical activity have a 9.9% risk of dying, whereas those who sit for less than four hours and engage in at least one hour of daily activity have a 6.8% risk.

The study also shows that one hour of moderate physical activity, such as walking 5-6 km or leisurely cycling at a speed of 16 km/h, is enough to counteract the harmful effects of prolonged sitting.

Professor Ulf Ekelund from the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences and Cambridge University, head of the research team, states: "You don't have to play sports or go to the gym. You can do some brisk walking in the morning, during a lunch break, or after dinner. The activity can be spread throughout the day, but it should last at least an hour."

Professor Ekelund also notes that even five-minute breaks can be beneficial: "It's not easy to do an hour of physical activity a day. I don't know if it's too much to ask for only part of those three hours to be devoted to physical activity. A five-minute break at work every hour can be effective. It should be in the employers' interest to bring about this cultural change."