Prolonged periods of sitting and watching television causes a THREE-FOLD increased risk ofdeveloping a walking difficulty in later life, a new study has shown. The study, which followed agroup of healthy people between the ages of 50 and 71 for 10 years, found that prolongedsitting was particularly harmful when combined with low levels of physical activity.
Participants who watched 5 or more hours of TV per day had a 65% greater risk of reporting amobility disability at the study's end, compared with those who watched the least amounts ofTV (less than 2 hours per day) - regardless of their level of physical activity.
However, those who had 3 hours per week or less of physical activity were found to be evenmore likely to have difficulty walking by the end of the study. "Sitting and watching TV for longperiods (especially in the evening) has got to be one of the most dangerous things that olderpeople can do," said Professor Loretta DiPietro, lead author of the study from GeorgeWashington University in Washington, DC.
This study comes a week after Public Health England announced the country is facing ashocking health time-bomb due to inactivity. The survey showed that more than six millionmiddle-aged Brits fail to manage a single brisk 10 minute walk in a month.
"As we age, the less we use our muscles, the worse they become in terms of quantity ANDquality," said Dr James Brown from Aston University and trustee of the British Society forResearch on Ageing.
"The key message is USE IT OR LOSE IT!" Dr Brown told the Daily Mirror.
"关键信息就是不使用肌肉你就会失去肌肉！"布朗博士对Daily Mirror期刊说道。
Benefits of walking
走路的好处
The minimum recommended amount of exercise is ten minutes walking at brisk intensity everyday. This benefits inactive adults the most as it gets the heart pumping in order to improvehealth.
Research shows that anyone completing that would be 15% less likely to have an early death, 40% less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, 35% less likely to suffer heart problems and 30% less likely to get dementia.
