- Research shows that, as we grow older, it is important to stay physically active, but participating in traditional forms of exercise may not be the only way to avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
- Three medical experts share tips on how to stay active if typical exercise routines become difficult to adhere to or inaccessible.
- Daily tasks like gardening and housework can bring their own health benefits, according to healthcare professionals.
- The key to living longer, healthier lives is to get some movement in, and even light movement will do, experts point out.
There is a wealth of research, both decades-old and brand-new, emphasizing the importance of exercise for overall health and for staying healthy as we age.
Recent research published in BMJ Medicine argues that, to live longer, people should ideally engage in a variety of exercises and activities that promote physical exertion.
These include everything from running and swimming to yoga, but also activities like working around the home and yard.
To find out more about what activities, beyond typical forms of exercise, can help maintain our health as we age, Medical News Today spoke to three healthcare experts:
- Bert Mandelbaum, MD, a sports medicine specialist, orthopedic surgeon, and codirector of the Regenerative Orthobiologic Center at Cedars-Sinai Orthopaedics in Los Angeles
- David Cutler, MD, a board-certified family medicine physician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CA
- and Steven Allder, MD, a consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health, with a focus on traumatic brain injury and functional neurological disorders.
Here is their top advice on how to avoid a sedentary lifestyle in a way that is sustainable and accessible for everyone.
Cutler had a few caveats about what it really means to lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Most people are probably aware, he said, that “a sedentary lifestyle is generally defined as a way of living that involves prolonged periods of sitting or inactivity and very low levels of physical activity.”
Some examples of what this might involve, Cutler detailed, include:
- spending much of the day sitting, reclining, or lying down — for instance, at a desk, watching TV, or driving
- expending very little energy during waking hours
- spending less than the recommended 150 minutes per week in physical activities of moderate intensity.
However, he emphasized, “an important nuance of a sedentary lifestyle is that you can exercise regularly and still be sedentary.”
“For example,” said Cutler, “someone who works out for 30 minutes a day but sits for 8–10 hours at work is often considered both physically active and sedentary — because sedentary behavior is defined by how much you sit, not just whether you exercise.”
“The reason this matters is because a sedentary lifestyle is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, certain cancers, and all-cause mortality,” he pointed out.
Team Health Accessible
Health & Wellness Editorial Team
HealthAccessible editorial team delivers trusted, accessible, and evidence-based health information for everyone.
