Taking frequent "breaks" from inactivity can help you prevent obesity. Australian researchers found that people who take frequent breaks lasting one minute or more have smaller waist circumferences, independent of their regular exercise routines. "You should aim at performing movements which utilize large muscle groups and get your heart rate up just a tad, like getting out of your chair at work to walk to the washroom, fill up your bottle of water, or chat with a co-worker," says Peter Janiszewski, exercise physiologist at Queen's University in Ontario.

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