Arab News Japan

DUBAI: After conducting a study and surveying people from all over the world, Japanese sportswear company ASCIS highlighted the benefits of movement in its new campaign as it examined the relation between sedentary behavior and mental wellbeing.

The study, involving 26,000 participants, showed that people in Saudi Arabia and the UAE who worked 9 to 11 hours a day while sitting down had a significant drop in their mental wellbeing than those who were sitting for 3 to 5 hours. 

Additionally, those who spend a full working day continuously at their desk, eight or more hours, showcased a 25% increase in stress levels compared to those who take a break after four hours.

In order to find a suitable solution, the Japanese brand studied 80 desk-based jobs and concluded that 15 minutes of movement can increase mental wellbeing by 22.5%, decrease stress level by 13.3%, and boost productivity by 33.2%. 

The experiment also showed that before exercise, the brain’s Theta and Alpha waves declined after only three hours of consecutive work, which signals high levels of stress and anxiety. 

After 15 minutes of movement, it is shown that the brain is more relaxed and re-energized. 

24.7% of participants said they would be happier at work if movement breaks were introduced, while 79.2% shared that they would be more loyal to their job if offered movement-focused breaks.