I’m sure you’re aware that walking is good for you. But did you know that constant movement lies at the core of a healthy life?
What I mean by that is this: we are meant to move. We have adapted over millennia for constant activity. Not high-level activity, but activity nonetheless. Whether it’s walking at a slow pace or just moving constantly in one place, our bodies are meant to be in nearly-constant motion.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Dr. Levine of the Mayo Clinic has determined there is a strong correlation between the amount of activity a person has throughout the day and how obese they are. He studied non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), and found that exercise is not necessary for staying thin, movement of any kind counts. Obese people are stationary about 2 – 2 1/2 hours per day more than lean people. Put simply, people who are consistently active are almost all lean.
Think about it: just a slow walk, one mile per hour, leads to burning 800 calories during a workday. I’m not even talking about a level of activity that would lead to sweat-stains, I’m talking about a slow pace. Compare that to most office-workers, who only move their fingers and hands, and that’s a very big difference in calorie expenditure in a day.
So what did Dr. Levine find? As I mentioned, active people stay lean. But he also determined that it doesn’t take all that much activity. The determining factors have to do with the amount of movement, the duration, and not the intensity. Walking around, standing, fidgeting, changing positions… these are all beneficial. It’s about moving more than just your hands as you work.
Most movement for any individual, even gym-goers, falls into the low-intensity category. Walking around the office or around the house, getting up to brush your teeth or take a shower, going for a cup of coffee… this type of motion accounts for the majority of your non-metabolic calorie expenditure. Going to the gym pales in comparison, in terms of calories burned over a week. When this movement goes away, we become obese. Our metabolism slows greatly, and we suddenly are eating much more than we are burning. Next thing we know, we’re 20 pounds heavier and gaining.
How can you reverse this expansionary trend? Move more. Go for walks. Better yet, walk while you work. Yes, you can now get (or make) a workstation built into a treadmill, so that you can be motive through the day. Hold meetings in a large space where you can walk while you talk. Walk to and from work if you can (or at least park as far from where you’re going as you have time for). Incorporate movement into as much of your day as possible.
Not only is movement important to your body fitness, it also has benefits for your heart and mind. Being active on a regular basis keeps you thinking sharp and performing at a much higher level than being stationary all the time.
Get up, move around, stay active. Find excuses to go for a walk whenever possible.
Now as to how Dr. Levine determined this: well, let’s just say that the underwear he had his patients wear was designed for fighter pilots. I’ll let you read his research papers to find out more about that…
Resources:
- Mayo Clinic Discovers a Key to “Low Metabolism” and Major Factor in Obesity
- NON-EXERCISE ACTIVITY THERMOGENESIS
- Nonstop Office: Maybe It’s Good for You
Other news
- Cheaper than the spa: US prisoner sues over weight loss
- So we’re known for our military and our TV shows… what a great way to judge our culture: Country profile: United States of America
- Want a girl? Eat less: High-calorie diet linked to boys
Quote for the week
The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want. – Ben Stein
Healthy thoughts,
Jeff
