The Power of Everyday Movement
Why do some people seem naturally more active, while others find themselves sitting most of the day? Science suggests the answer may lie in Nonexercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT) — the movement that happens outside of planned exercise — and it plays a key role in explaining why some people become obese while others, in the same environment, do not.
Over the past 150 years, humans have evolved into sitters. We once roamed the African plains hunting, gathering, and seeking safety, walking all day in search of food and shelter.
According to a study on NEAT, some people are genetically predisposed to move more and expend greater energy in daily life, while others tend to conserve it. That ancient wiring still shows up today: some people are naturally inclined to fidget and move while others are predisposed towards stillness.
In the modern world, many of us drive to work, sit all day, drive home, and relax in front of a screen. The way we have structured our environments plays a powerful role in our collective inactivity, and therefore in the rising rates of obesity and related diseases. As a society, we share this responsibility.
Exercise is medicine. It remains the single most effective thing you can do to improve your health and longevity.
This week a friend shared of her workplace step-count competition. Suddenly, colleagues are booking walking meetings and looking for opportunities to move during their day. Walking while working can burn hundreds of additional calories daily. It’s a great example of how a small workplace initiative can create a ripple effect of positive change.
What simple change could you introduce in your own workplace to do the same?
Each of us also holds personal responsibility for creating more movement in our days. Even if time feels too limited for structured exercise, small, consistent actions add up. Giving value to the small, everyday tasks that get you up and moving also adds up – ie the mindset shift alongside the activity is powerful.
In one study of hotel housekeeping staff, participants lost weight and improved body shape, productivity, and enjoyment of their work simply by learning that their physically active jobs already supported their wellbeing. Suddenly, mowing the lawn, cleaning the house, or taking out the bins can become less of a chore and more of a meaningful act of self-care.
All movement counts.
Take a moment to reflect: Are you someone who craves movement, or do you tend towards stillness? How can you build more activity into your day, or help others do the same?
And if you feel stuck and you’d like help exploring how to make that happen, let’s connect.
References Levine, J. A., Eberhardt, N. L., & Jensen, M. D. (1999). Role of nonexercise activity thermogenesis in resistance to fat gain in humans. Journal of Internal Medicine, 262 (3), 273-287. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2007.01842.x
Crum, A. J., & Langer, E. J. (2007). Mind-set matters: Exercise and the placebo effect. Psychological Science, 18(2), 165–171. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01867.x