In September 2018 researchers from Australia published the results of their study to assess whether regular, brief activity bouts, eg during television commercial breaks following a high-energy evening meal, regular, brief activity bouts during TV commercial breaks, could reduce postprandial glucose and insulin responses in overweight/obese adults. Nine overweight/obese adults (average age 32 years, 5 male, average BMI 29.7) consumed a high energy meal and then spent 3.5 hours watching television, and then on a different occasion spent the same time sitting but in addition undertook 3 minutes of light-intensity body-weight resistance activities every 20 minutes to simulate commercial breaks. Postprandial glucose and insulin responses to the high energy evening meal were assessed before and after each intervention. Results showed that prolonged sitting interrupted every 20 minutes with 3 minutes of light-intensity body-weight resistance activities appeared to reduce postprandial glucose levels by 33% and insulin response by 41% when compared to the uninterrupted prolonged sitting.
Climie RE et al. Regular brief interruptions to sitting after a high-energy evening meal attenuate glycemic excursions in overweight/obese adults. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2018 Sep;28(9):909-916.