Why fidgeting may actually be good for your health

Sitting for long periods of time may cause diseases and early deah

When you feel like fidgeting, don't worry about whether it's bad for you or not. New research shows that being restless and fidgeting at work can actually be good for your health.

HOLLYWOOD, CA  (Catholic Online) - A series of studies showed that long periods of sitting could pose health risks, while sedentary lifestyles increase the chances of heart disease, obesity and an early death.

According to research published this week in American Journal of Preventive Medicine, fidgeting in your chair may positively affect the negative health effects of sitting for long periods of time. The University of Leeds and the University College London have organized the largest cohort studies for women's diet and health in the UK. The study was called The University of Leeds' UK Women's Cohort Study and the data was based on nearly 13,000 women between 37 and 38.
Participants of the study answered questions concerning their daily average sitting time and their frequency of fidgeting on a scale of 1 to 10. Answering "one" meant no fidgeting at all, while answering "10" meant constantly fidgeting. 
They also gave information about their lifestyle -how much they smoke and drank alcohol, their exercise habits and diets. The women started answering questionnaires in 1999 and continued through 2002 and researchers followed up with them each one for an average of 12 years. 
It was discovered that the women who sit for more than seven hours each day are 30 percent more likely to have died from any cause than women who sit less than five hours per day. The study also showed that those who turned out to be moderate or frequent fidgeters while sitting down for longer periods of time have no greater risk of dying. 
According to study co-lead author Dr. Gareth Hagger Johnson, from the University College of London, "Our results support the suggestion that it's best to avoid sitting still for long periods of time, and even fidgeting may offer enough of a break to make a difference." 
While fidgeting is not sufficient to be considered "regular exercise," researchers noted the habit could be good for people who sit long periods of time.
Co-lead author Professor Janet Cade, from the School of Food Science and Nutrition at the Univeristy of Leeds, stated, "While further research is needed, the findings raise questions about whether the negative associations with fidgeting, such as rudeness or lack of concentration, should persist if such simple movements are beneficial for our health."
The study was extremely limited and can currently be considered a mere suggestion based on a small population test without a control group or exact scale of fidgeting. 

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