BODY ELECTRIC

An argument for building small bursts of movement into the day—an antidote to stalled-out health resolutions and a reminder that sustainable change need not be grand to be transformative.

For Zomorodi, host of NPR’s “TED Radio Hour,” the evidence is stark: Long hours of typing, scrolling, and sitting are harming our health. Without abandoning our devices, embracing brief, regular movement—walking or simply moving around the house or office—can offset sedentary time. With colleagues at NPR and Columbia University, she launched the Body Electric study, which drew more than 20,000 participants from around the world. Zomorodi joined as well and found that even for a healthy person, doing five minutes of movement every 30 minutes significantly lowered blood pressure and blood sugar. Environmental factors can also foster better health. She points to “blue zones,” including Sardinia, Greece, and Costa Rica, where many residents enjoy high-quality lives past age 100. Studies, she notes, link happiness and social connection to longer life, and “People who maintain responsibilities as they age—whether it’s preparing meals, helping raise grandchildren, or tending gardens—tend to age better.” Such engagement helps sustain a “fluffy,” resilient brain. Communities can also contribute. In 2009, the community of Albert Lea, Minnesota, redesigned infrastructure to encourage walking. “By the end of the project, 1,100 residents had joined walking groups, and remarkably, 60 percent of them were still active five years later. Collectively, Albert Lea residents self-reported losing 7,280 pounds. The city reported a 40 percent reduction in healthcare costs for its workers.” Zomorodi argues that such changes can radically improve public health. She concludes, “underneath all the data and advice, it really comes down to this: What kind of old person do you want to be?” This upbeat, lively volume heartily encourages all ages to take a stand.

Look up from your screens—sitting is the new smoking, warns this commonsense guide to incorporating movement into daily life.