A new study shows older people need to move more and sit less. Researchers at George Washington University looked at data on men and women ages 50 to 71. They found that people watching TV more than five hours a day and who were physically active less than three hours a week were much more likely to have trouble walking later on. 

 

“We found a particularly damaging effect from TV viewing, sitting around during the day,” said Dr. Loretta DiPietro, Professor of Exercise Science, George Washington University.

 

She explained that you don’t have to hit the gym to become more physically active, saying that even small changes can make a big difference. Dr. DiPietro listed walking, gardening, housework, climbing stairs, and parking the car a little bit farther away as effective ways to stay active.

 

The study’s author said even young and middle-aged people usually don’t realize they are sitting up to 14 hours a day, and how important it is to break that up.