Fidgeting while sitting may be good for us

By Sally Robertson, B.Sc.Sep 24 2015

Fidgeting may counteract the adverse health effects of sitting down for long periods, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

The findings support a growing body of evidence that suggests a sedentary lifestyle is bad for people, including those who engage in physical activity outside of work. Spending too much time sitting while watching T.V or working at a computer, for example, can shorten our lifespan and increase the risk of conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

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Research has previously shown that breaking up sitting time does improve health markers such as body mass index and insulin response. However, the current study is the first to examine whether fidgeting has any influence on the association between sitting time and mortality.

"Our results support the suggestion that it's best to avoid sitting still for long periods of time, and even fidgeting may offer enough of a break to make a difference,” says co-lead author of the study Gareth Hagger-Johnson from UCL.

Scientists from the University of Leeds and UCL examined data from the United Kingdom Women’s Cohort Study, which provided details about diet, physical activity, fidgeting and chronic disease for almost 13,000 women aged between 37 and 78 years.

Compared with women who sat for less than 5 hours a day, sitting for 7 hours or more each day did not increase the risk of all-cause mortality among those who considered themselves to be moderately or very fidgety. Among those who considered themselves to be only occasional fidgeters, however, the risk of mortality was increased by 30%. This association was found after adjustment for factors such as physical activity, diet, alcohol consumption and smoking status.

"While further research is needed, the findings raise questions about whether the negative associations with fidgeting, such as rudeness or lack of concentration, should persist if such simple movements are beneficial for our health," says co-lead author of the paper Janet Cade from the University of Leeds.

NHS expert in sports and exercise medicine, Wilby Williamson, explains that reducing our sitting time improves our ability to break down sugar and fat, which can help to reduce our risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

"The risk factors for cardiovascular disease and longevity start to increase above two hours of television watching per day. If you can make your TV watching or screen time more active that could be beneficial,” he advises.