Simply standing up may be as good for us as exercise

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Scientists have found intriguing evidence that one major reason so many people are overweight these days may be as close as the seat of their pants.

Literally. According to the researchers, most of us sit too much.

In most cases, exercise alone, according to a team of scientists at the University of Missouri, isn’t enough to take off those added pounds.

The problem, they say, is that all the stuff we’ve heard the last few years about weight control left one key factor out of the equation.

When we sit, the researchers found, the enzymes that are responsible for burning fat just shut down.

Using rats researchers took a close look at a fat-splitting enzyme, called lipase, that is critical to the body’s ability to break down fat.

After the animals remained seated for several hours the enzyme was suppressed down to 10 percent of normal – virtually shut off.

Full story at ABC News

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