Five-Minute Hourly Walk Reduces Risks of Sitting

It's been said that "sitting is the new smoking" because too much sitting can lead to serious health problems.

Poor circulation, higher cholesterol levels and oversized waists are a few of the problems associated with too much sitting.

A new study says there's a simple solution for people who sit much of the day. Just take a five-minute walk every hour.

Researchers at Indiana University say those walks can reverse the problems with poor circulation that can be caused by sitting too long.

"American adults sit for approximately 8 hours a day," Saurabh Thosar, a researcher at Oregon Health & Science University who led the study, said in a statement. "The impairment in endothelial function is significant after just 1 hour of sitting. It is interesting to see that light physical activity can help in preventing this impairment."

And you don't have to walk really fast either. Just a nice, leisurely stroll will do the job.