Sitting for more than six hours a day -- which includes all the sitting you do in your car -- raises blood sugar and cholesterol levels and shortens your life, even if you exercise regularly.

But the good news is you can help counteract the negative effects of a sedentary lifestyle with frequent breaks: aim to stand up and move around at least every hour. Every 30 minutes is even better. Scientists think that even mini-breaks of a few minutes make a significant difference to our health.

Add a green, fuel-saving spin to this by cutting down on time spent in your car seat too. Take the first available parking place instead of circling endlessly round the block, or park deliberately further from your destination and foot it the rest of the way. Every metre walked adds up to make a difference.

- Olivia Rose-Innes, EnviroHealth Editor, Health24, April 2012

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