EXERCISING OPTIONS

Are some types of exercise better than others for countering the effects of prolonged sitting? The main thing is to avoid long periods of inactivity, says Professor Dunstan. He advises meeting the Australian guidelines for physical activity: 2.5-5hrs of moderate-intensity activity (such as walking) or 75mins to 2.5hrs of vigorous-intensity activity (such as running) each week, and two-weekly sessions of musclestrengthening exercises. “We don’t use our muscles much in a sedentary job, so strength training is important.”