Get fit by fidgeting (yes, really)

Just 30 minutes of jiggling your legs or making short walks to the loo can cut the risk of cardiovascular disease.

You don’t need to spend hours at the gym to improve fitness levels, according to a new study. Just jiggle your legs up and down for 30 minutes.

Research has found that making a cup of tea, walking to and from the loo, or just sitting in front of the TV can boost long term fitness by ‘incidental physical activity’.

According to scientists at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, just 30 minutes of light exercise a day is enough to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and benefit the heart and lungs.

That’s not to say we should be chucking our trainers for a life of fidgeting – there’s no replacement for vigorous workouts – but it’s encouraging to know that a little can go a long way.

‘If we increase our incidental activity slightly – a little bit more work around the house, or walking down the hall to speak to a co-worker s opposed to sending an email – we can really benefit our health in the long-term,’ says Ashlee McGuire, who led the study.

As well as improving fitness, fidgeting has also been proven to help with weight loss.

One study carried out by the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota found that the additional movement of more slender people can burn up to 350 calories a day.

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