Why the study?
Do short bouts of physical activity ('exercise snacks') improve acute hemodynamic and peripheral vascular outcomes compared to prolonged sitting in adults?
Population
632 adults aged ≥ 18 years pooled from 36 randomized crossover or parallel controlled trials
Comparison
Short bouts of physical activity during… vs Prolonged sitting
Design
Meta-analysis, randomized crossover or parallel controlled trials included
Follow-up
acute
Key result
Exercise snacks during prolonged sitting significantly improved flow-mediated dilation (Hedges' g 0.44) and peripheral blood flow compared to continuous uninterrupted sitting.
Authors
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Interrupting prolonged sitting with short bouts of physical activity acutely improves endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation) and peripheral blood flow while modestly reducing systolic blood pressure.
Meta-Analysis (n=632)
Randomized
Yes
Do short bouts of physical activity ('exercise snacks') improve acute hemodynamic and peripheral vascular outcomes compared to prolonged sitting in adults?
Effect estimate: Hedges' g 0.44 (95% CI 0.06-0.81)
p-value: p=0.02
Interrupting prolonged sitting with short bouts of physical activity acutely improves endothelial function (flow-mediated dilation) and peripheral blood flow while modestly reducing systolic blood pressure.
Wang et al. (2026) conducted a meta-analysis in Prolonged sitting (n=632). Exercise snacks (sedentary breaks) vs. Continuous uninterrupted sitting was evaluated on Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) (Hedges' g 0.44, 95% CI 0.06-0.81, p=0.02). Exercise snacks during prolonged sitting significantly improved flow-mediated dilation (Hedges' g 0.44) and peripheral blood flow compared to continuous uninterrupted sitting.