Study Shows , How to Offset the Impact , of Prolonged Sitting.br CNN took a look at a study which focuses on the health br impacts of prolonged sitting and ways people canbr alleviate some of the increased risk of sedentary jobs.br The study was published in the journal of the American College of Sports Medicine.br For decades, it has been well understood that prolonged br sitting can increase the risk of many chronic diseases, br including diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.br We’ve known for probably about br a decade now that sitting increases br your risk for most chronic diseases br and increases your risk for early death, Keith Diaz, assistant professor of behavioral medicine br at Columbia University Medical Center, via CNN.br Just like how much fruits and vegetables br they should eat and how much exercise br they should do, we need to give (people) br specific guidance on how to br combat the harms of sitting, Keith Diaz, assistant professor of behavioral medicine br at Columbia University Medical Center, via CNN.br Just like how much fruits and vegetables br they should eat and how much exercise br they should do, we need to give (people) br specific guidance on how to br combat the harms of sitting, Keith Diaz, assistant professor of behavioral medicine br at Columbia University Medical Center, via CNN.br According to the study, five minutes of light br walking every half hour is enough to alleviate br some of the associated risks.br The researchers suggest that the keybr is breaking up long periods of br sitting with some movement. .br CNN reports that scientists br still don't fully understand why br prolonged sitting is so harmful.br Researchers believe that the cause of the harm may br revolve around the role of muscles in regulating br things like cholesterol and blood sugar levels.br The study's lead author, Keith Diaz, suggests that little br "activity snacks" like walking one minute every hour br had a significant impact on reducing blood pressure.