A study at the University of Geneva has shown how something as small as taking the stairs instead of the elevator can have a big impact on your health. The study started with 69 participants who had a sedentary lifestyle, meaning they did less than two hours of exercise each week and climbed fewer than 10 flights of stairs each day. Over the 12 weeks of the study, participants were asked to take the stairs instead of the elevator, increasing their average number of flights from five to 23. After three months, tests showed they had better lung capacity, cholesterol and blood pressure levels, their fitness level improved and they also lost weight. Researchers say that these results reduced their risk of dying young by 15%! Although larger-scale studies would need to validate these results, they are very promising. This is a good example of how small bits of activity can make a huge difference in your health. You don’t need to spend hours at the gym each day to get some of the health benefits a little extra activity can provide. Short on time? Find out how to squeeze exercise into your busy day! |
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