This is one of many such reports I've seen over the last few years. The part I find concerning is these reports that say no matter how hard you exercise / workout, if you have a job that involves sitting down for long periods, it won't make any difference.

Many of us have no choice but to be sitting in an office but I try to be as active as possible. I run two to three times a week, I go out for a 2 mile walk every day and I do about 100 step ups in the morning however, I read these reports and it makes me feel as though I'm still not doing enough!

Ray

They are obviously missing a vital piece of info then! If it were me, I would let them know.

Hello Amy

"They are obviously missing a vital piece of info then! If it were me, I would let them know. ;)"

I'm not sure what you mean?

Ray

Hello Amy

"They are obviously missing a vital piece of info then! If it were me, I would let them know. ;)"

I'm not sure what you mean?

Ray

Well you disagree with their findings don't you, i.e. that exercising makes no difference if having a sedentary lifestyle? Presumably you feel it DOES make a difference healthwise. Perhaps you can explain what the 'before' and 'after' changes are, i.e. prior to having taken up exercise. Unless I misunderstood and you, reluctantly, have to agree with them?

I don't agree or disagree with their findings. I've seen other reports making similar statements. What I'm saying is that I find it depressing that, according to these reports, despite all the exercise I do, it won't make any difference.

Ray

I don't agree or disagree with their findings. I've seen other reports making similar statements. What I'm saying is that I find it depressing that, according to these reports, despite all the exercise I do, it won't make any difference.

Ray

Yes you said that but...presumably you know how you feel after exercising? It releases endorphins doesn't it? Can you measure how you are now to, say, how you were before you used to exercise (presuming you still had a sedentary lifestyle)? The comparison would be interesting.

Yeah, you're right about the releasing of endorphins. I definitely feel that, like a high and it can last several hours. So without a doubt, I feel better after a run. I would say that in comparison to when I was younger, I do more exercise now and harder exercise with the running. So I do a much as I can considering I work full time (in said sitting down job),

Ray

This is one of many such reports I've seen over the last few years. The part I find concerning is these reports that say no matter how hard you exercise / workout, if you have a job that involves sitting down for long periods, it won't make any difference.

Many of us have no choice but to be sitting in an office but I try to be as active as possible. I run two to three times a week, I go out for a 2 mile walk every day and I do about 100 step ups in the morning however, I read these reports and it makes me feel as though I'm still not doing enough!

Ray

This isn't a study - it's just something that Public Health England is pushing. So why believe them more than anyone else?

It's odd because I know plenty of office workers who hit the gym regularly or do some kind of sports/physical activity regularly and are "middle aged" and not fat.

I only do about 30 minutes a day typically (sometimes only 15 minutes if I'm in a rush) and I'm in decent shape especially considering I'm now "middle aged".

Actually, I wonder if it's partly because people exaggerate the amount of exercise they do. Take your average... er... 44 year old desk jockey. Ask them if they exercise. They'll look at their feet guiltily, then say, "Yes, of course, I do at least 30 minutes a day!" knowing that they last walked to the corner shop 6 months ago.

Ah well Ray of Light, maybe physical exercise can at least have an impact on your brain...someone will soon tell us different though!

Exercisers Had Larger Brains
The new research included about 700 people living in the United Kingdom who all had scans when they reached the age of 73.

Three years earlier, at age 70, the study participants were questioned about the leisure and physical activities they engaged in.

People in the study who reported being the most physically active tended to have larger brain volumes of gray and normal white matter, and physical activity was linked to less brain atrophy.

Regular exercise also appeared to protect against the formation of white matter lesions, which are linked to thinking and memory decline.

Non-physical leisure activities did not appear to protect the brain from shrinkage, suggesting that mental activity may be less important than regular exercise for preserving brain function into old age, the researchers say.

Ah well Ray of Light, maybe physical exercise can at least have an impact on your brain...someone will soon tell us different though!

Exercisers Had Larger Brains
The new research included about 700 people living in the United Kingdom who all had scans when they reached the age of 73.

Three years earlier, at age 70, the study participants were questioned about the leisure and physical activities they engaged in.

People in the study who reported being the most physically active tended to have larger brain volumes of gray and normal white matter, and physical activity was linked to less brain atrophy.

Regular exercise also appeared to protect against the formation of white matter lesions, which are linked to thinking and memory decline.

Non-physical leisure activities did not appear to protect the brain from shrinkage, suggesting that mental activity may be less important than regular exercise for preserving brain function into old age, the researchers say.

Interesting and it makes sense in terms of getting more oxygen to the brain. However, is exercise the only factor that could cause having larger brains? To combat brain atrophy e.g. dementia, brain ACTIVITY is equally important, e.g. learning new skills. This was not a factor accounted for in this study I see.

"It's odd because I know plenty of office workers who hit the gym regularly or do some kind of sports/physical activity regularly and are "middle aged" and not fat."

Thanks, that's my feeling too from the people I work with.

"Actually, I wonder if it's partly because people exaggerate the amount of exercise they do."

I hadn't actually thought of that.

Thanks Jeannie and Darren; you've given me some hope that my exercise regime is not in vain!

the problem the report is talking about is caused much more by unhealthy lifestyle choices such as smoking, alcohol consumption and unhealthy food choices. Exercise is only one aspect. if you are doing that then well done. And if you are being sensible about alcohol and eating a healthy diet (ie not living off fast food) you are doing better than most people.

I've never smoked, I don't eat any processed food at all, no take aways etc. Er, now the alcohol. I don't drink every week, but I do like spirits occasionally. The only thing I would say is that I don't get hangovers. I think my overall fitness helps my body deal with it.

Ray

It's odd because I know plenty of office workers who hit the gym regularly or do some kind of sports/physical activity regularly and are "middle aged" and not fat.

I only do about 30 minutes a day typically (sometimes only 15 minutes if I'm in a rush) and I'm in decent shape especially considering I'm now "middle aged".

Exercise appears to have many benefits. However, weight loss isn't one of them.

Exercise appears to have many benefits. However, weight loss isn't one of them.

I know that's what the report says but avoiding exercise isn't going to positively affect your weight!

"It's odd because I know plenty of office workers who hit the gym regularly or do some kind of sports/physical activity regularly and are "middle aged" and not fat."

Thanks, that's my feeling too from the people I work with.

"Actually, I wonder if it's partly because people exaggerate the amount of exercise they do."

I hadn't actually thought of that.

Thanks Jeannie and Darren; you've given me some hope that my exercise regime is not in vain!

It is not in vain, even if the report is correct.

Ah well Ray of Light, maybe physical exercise can at least have an impact on your brain...someone will soon tell us different though!

Exercisers Had Larger Brains
The new research included about 700 people living in the United Kingdom who all had scans when they reached the age of 73.

Three years earlier, at age 70, the study participants were questioned about the leisure and physical activities they engaged in.

People in the study who reported being the most physically active tended to have larger brain volumes of gray and normal white matter, and physical activity was linked to less brain atrophy.

Regular exercise also appeared to protect against the formation of white matter lesions, which are linked to thinking and memory decline.

Non-physical leisure activities did not appear to protect the brain from shrinkage, suggesting that mental activity may be less important than regular exercise for preserving brain function into old age, the researchers say.

Interesting. What it seems to mean is that it avoids the brain shrinking at its usual rate in old age. What the fitness world has taken that to mean is that exercising makes your brain bigger (I've already seen people posting this!).

I suspect part of it is that physical exercise might be physical but the brain is required to control your body which keeps the brain active in a different way to say doing a crossword.

This is one of many such reports I've seen over the last few years. The part I find concerning is these reports that say no matter how hard you exercise / workout, if you have a job that involves sitting down for long periods, it won't make any difference.

Many of us have no choice but to be sitting in an office but I try to be as active as possible. I run two to three times a week, I go out for a 2 mile walk every day and I do about 100 step ups in the morning however, I read these reports and it makes me feel as though I'm still not doing enough!

Ray

Good god! Never read any reports, they change every six months. Exercise for joy and sit for joy....not obligation.
Your body is intelligent beyond belief. The slight trouble is mind is always sat in it so own way. It knows too much to complicate things. It listens to too many sources of information. Too bad

Obligation to keep healthy is a right suck. much too effort, if you ask me...The underline energy is of fear, rather than joy. Your body will start to resonate that vibration....
Health, is not just of body....body follows mind. So you exercise and then sit for hours and worry about it....it's likely the body will manifest that worry in one form or other...disease starts in mind

Even if body does all circus of health and keeping fit but mind cannot hold health vibration.....easy to guess what's going to happen. The only way is do what you can and know that is good enough for you personally, pay no attention to other people's findings. Dismiss reports as fast as they can publish them...
Sanity

Reports have their place i.e. as a possible indicator of the current situation. To dismiss them totally is to not consider possible truths. That said, the source of the report and what it did and didn't include are crucial factors in its assessment.

I know that's what the report says but avoiding exercise isn't going to positively affect your weight!

Or negatively.

Health, is not just of body....body follows mind. So you exercise and then sit for hours and worry about it....it's likely the body will manifest that worry in one form or other...

I hadn't thought of that. Concern and worry isn't going to send a good vibration into the body, is it? So I'll start to think about the high that I was on last night for three hours after my run and roll on tomorrow morning when I'll have another run!

Ray

I hadn't thought of that. Concern and worry isn't going to send a good vibration into the body, is it? So I'll start to think about the high that I was on last night for three hours after my run and roll on tomorrow morning when I'll have another run!

Ray

Psychosomatic illnesses are ones that start from our mindset that then go on to impact on us physically.

Ha ha, well said Jnani

Good god! Never read any reports, they change every six months. Exercise for joy and sit for joy....not obligation.
Your body is intelligent beyond belief. The slight trouble is mind is always sat in it so own way. It knows too much to complicate things. It listens to too many sources of information. Too bad

Obligation to keep healthy is a right suck. much too effort, if you ask me...The underline energy is of fear, rather than joy. Your body will start to resonate that vibration....
Health, is not just of body....body follows mind. So you exercise and then sit for hours and worry about it....it's likely the body will manifest that worry in one form or other...disease starts in mind

Even if body does all circus of health and keeping fit but mind cannot hold health vibration.....easy to guess what's going to happen. The only way is do what you can and know that is good enough for you personally, pay no attention to other people's findings. Dismiss reports as fast as they can publish them...
Sanity

I do think we have an obligation to treat our body well which means getting a good balance of movement, and relaxation, eating the right sorts of food, but I think if we all listened more to our bodies and let be a guide to what to eat, what to do we would be generally healthier and happier. Government advice does change for reasons I understand - but when we did we all start needing governments to teach us what to do to be healthy?

I say we have an obligation because I totally understand why the NHS in some areas is considering excluding people from treatment for certain conditions if they are not prepared to make sensible lifestyle choices. I am not saying I approve but I understand why they see that as a way to make best use of scarce resources.

I do think we have an obligation to treat our body well which means getting a good balance of movement, and relaxation, eating the right sorts of food, but I think if we all listened more to our bodies and let be a guide to what to eat, what to do we would be generally healthier and happier. Government advice does change for reasons I understand - but when we did we all start needing governments to teach us what to do to be healthy?

I say we have an obligation because I totally understand why the NHS in some areas is considering excluding people from treatment for certain conditions if they are not prepared to make sensible lifestyle choices. I am not saying I approve but I understand why they see that as a way to make best use of scarce resources.

There is a huge problem with this idea of people who are not 'prepared to make sensible lifestyle choices' being excluded - and it is often talked about for the obese. For example, the NHS is still pushing the 'low-fat' angle, but anyone who has done their own reading of the research will know that this is not 'healthy advice'. The NHS believe we should 'eat less, move more' and count calories, despite studies having shown these do not work. We could get into a situation where those people who take most responsibility for taking care of themselves are penalised because the NHS does not agree with them.

Or negatively.

I can't see why it definitely won't reduce your weight.

Consider the following – In the UK, between 1997 and 2008, regular exercise increased from 32% to 39% in men and from 21% to 29% in women. (British Heart Foundation figures) In the same time, obesity increased also. This has happened worldwide. The Americans exercise the most – and have increased obesity the most. The lowest rates of exercise in Europe were in Italy and the Netherlands – countries that had one third the obesity rise of the US. A 2013 study comparing weight and activity of young children aged 3 to 5 (Dwyer-Lindgren, Freedman, Engell et al) concluded, “there is no association between activity and obesity”.

As far as we can tell, exercise has not decreased since hunter-gatherer times. Nor has calorie intake increased. The huge change has been in what we eat and when we eat.

Consider the following – In the UK, between 1997 and 2008, regular exercise increased from 32% to 39% in men and from 21% to 29% in women. (British Heart Foundation figures) In the same time, obesity increased also. This has happened worldwide. The Americans exercise the most – and have increased obesity the most. The lowest rates of exercise in Europe were in Italy and the Netherlands – countries that had one third the obesity rise of the US. A 2013 study comparing weight and activity of young children aged 3 to 5 (Dwyer-Lindgren, Freedman, Engell et al) concluded, “there is no association between activity and obesity”.

As far as we can tell, exercise has not decreased since hunter-gatherer times. Nor has calorie intake increased. The huge change has been in what we eat and when we eat.

I disagree. I think we consume FAR more calories than we used to. I was looking at the size of wine glasses and dinner plates that my mum had in her day (e.g. around 1950) - noticeably smaller!

People have more takeaways, i.e. that have trans fats - BOUND to be more highly calorific than conventional meals.