Hourly five-minute walking breaks improve mood and fatigue

A new large-scale study has found that taking a five-minute walking break every hour offers the most favorable balance between practicality and health benefits for people who spend long periods sitting. The research, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, indicates these brief "movement breaks" can boost mood, lessen fatigue, and do not undermine work performance.

The study analyzed data from 19,342 adults participating in the interactive Body Electric Challenge organized by National Public Radio (NPR) in the United States. Participants spanned a wide range of ages, occupations, and work environments. For the intervention, 11,484 participants chose to take five-minute walking breaks at a self-selected frequency of every 30, 60, or 120 minutes for 14 consecutive days, following a seven-day baseline period of their usual routine.

Throughout the 21-day period, most participants completed daily email surveys assessing changes in fatigue, mood, and work performance. A random sample of 1,200 full-time employees received more frequent SMS surveys to gauge the immediate impact of the breaks.

All three break frequencies were rated as feasible, acceptable, and appropriate by...