By Ciaran Russell

Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, or NEAT, refers to unplanned physical activity which is the largest component of caloric expenditure that you can readily change. People are more sedentary than ever before and this contributes to an increase in chronic illness, all because we are spending more time staying still. Many people working office, or now home office, jobs will likely be sitting down for the majority of their work day, which is followed by sitting down to watch the next must see TV series for the evening.Over time this compounds into a population of people that don’t move their body as much as the can or should and can then lead to further health concerns later in life.Thankfully there’s some steps we can take to increase our levels of physical activity which not only benefits you when you want to lose some excess body fat but it will also positively contribute to better health. For example; things like walking to school with your kids or cycling to the shop instead of getting in your car. When you’re back in the office or shopping centres, opt to take the stairs over the lift. Even park your car as far away in the carpark as possible. These small actions will become habits over time and will have a really big impact on your levels of activity.For the office workers, set regular alarms to trigger you to take a movement break, leave your bottle of water or your phone on the other side of the room so you have to get up to get them. Better still get yourself a standing desk if possible. The aim is to move as much as possible throughout your day. Some might find it helpful to set a daily step target. By setting a number of steps to be achieved every day you are giving yourself some more motivation to get moving. By putting more emphasis on your NEAT and increasing your levels of physical activity you are building better habits for the future more active you. Having a more active day will have a positive impact on your physical and mental health, your energy and your weight loss.