Get Up!

May 5, 2014
“Humans have only sat for about 200 years, since we urbanized and industrialized,” writes Levine, codirector of the Mayo Clinic/Arizona State University Obesity Solutions Initiative, in this treatise about why readers should get moving to improve their health; “It’s obvious that as a species we are not designed for chairdom.” Noting that the average American sits for 13 hours each day, Levine, the inventor of the “treadmill desk,” shows how a life spent sitting can lead to any number of health problems. Technological advances such as the assembly line and desktop computers have led to more sedentary work, resulting in expanding waistlines and health risks. The key, he says, is NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis): the calories we burn doing mundane tasks. Basically, we need to move more. Levine says one of the easiest and most effective things we can do is to move right after a meal, offsetting the dramatic spike that occurs with insulin levels; the resulting blood sugar that can’t get metabolized turns to fat. Other tactics include wearable technologies to help users monitor their activity levels, move-friendly workplaces, and, most importantly, simply making an effort to be more active. Agent: Natanya Wheeler, Nancy Yost Literary Agency.