Stand up to fat

By Danielle Winston

Turns out Mom was on to something when she nagged you to go outside and play: Physiologists at the University of Missouri found that sitting can pile on the pounds by halting the circulation of a fat-absorbing enzyme called lipase. “When we sit, fat recirculates in the bloodstream and is stored as body fat or clogs the arteries, causing disease,” says Marc Hamilton, PhD, associate professor at the University of Missouri and author of the study. “Standing engages our muscles to help distribute this enzyme, allowing the body to process fat and cholesterol more efficiently.” Does your job keep you glued to a chair all day? Set a timer on your computer (or even on an egg timer) to remind you to stand and stretch every 30 minutes.
—Danielle Winston