A MAJOR study has concluded that office workers can eliminate the health risks of sitting down throughout the working day by doing an hour of exercise.

An hour’s brisk walking or cycling for pleasure can offset the dangers of being desk-bound for eight hours, says the report which has been published by the Lancet.

Increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers have been linked to physical inactivity which is associated with 5 million deaths a year globally.

The Lancet’s recommendation of 60-75 minutes of physical activity per day far exceeds current World Health Organisation guidelines which say adults should do at least 150 mins of physical activity per week.

Leader author of the report, Professor Ulf Ekelund from the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, Norway and the University of Cambridge, says:

“There has been a lot of concern about the health risks associated with today’s more sedentary lifestyles. Our message is a positive one: it is possible to reduce – or even eliminate – these risks if we are active enough, even without having to take up sports or go to the gym.”

He continues: “For many people who commute to work and have office-based jobs, there is no way to escape sitting for prolonged periods of time. For these people in particular, we cannot stress enough the importance of getting exercise, whether it’s getting out for a walk at lunchtime, going for a run in the morning or cycling to work.”

Data from 1 million people was analysed as part of the study, which can be read in full here.