Many people are sitting for increasing amounts of time during their work days, but breaking things up with regular short walks, while also taking daily 30-minute walks, significantly lowers the level of fatty acids that lead to clogged arteries.
This was a finding of Otago University researchers in a first-of-its-kind study which recently appeared in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology.
Study lead author Dr Meredith Peddie, of the Otago department of human nutrition, said increased sitting was also associated with an increased risk of a cardiovascular disease, diabetes and death from all causes.
Otago scientists had previously shown that taking brisk walks for two minutes every half hour lowered the blood glucose and insulin levels of office workers.
''We believe there is an important health message here.
''The traditional half-hour block of moderate to vigorous activity is important, but so is limiting long periods of sitting by undertaking regular short bouts of activity throughout the day,'' Dr Peddie said.
Earlier international research had ''overwhelmingly failed'' to detect evidence that regular walking breaks affected lipid levels, but this was ''likely due to the effect generally not being immediate''.
Dr Peddie and fellow researchers were ''pretty excited'' about the latest findings, which highlighted the potential health benefits of both short and longer walks.
The most recent Otago study showed this sort of activity also reduced triglyceride (lipid) levels when measured in response to a meal consumed about 24 hours after starting the activity.
High levels of triglycerides are linked to hardening of the arteries and other cardiovascular conditions.
The study was based on a randomised crossover trial, in which 36 participants completed four two-day interventions, which involved prolonged sitting; and sitting with various exercise options.
