Lack of exercise is one of the biggest health risks of our time. To prevent its negative consequences, one must integrate more movement into daily life. In this article, we show why prevention through movement is so important and how small changes in your daily (work) routine can already have a big impact.
Why Prevention of Physical Inactivity is So Important
Lack of exercise has quietly and steadily crept deeper and deeper into our modern lifestyle and taken root there – in the truest sense of the word. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about a quarter of all adults worldwide do not meet the recommended level of physical activity.
When is it considered a lack of exercise?
A lack of exercise describes a state in which the body is not physically active enough over longer periods. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines it as falling below the recommended minimum activity of 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week for adults.
🚨 In short, if you are active less than 3-4 times a week, generally have little movement in your daily life, and are mostly sedentary, then you are already in the realm of physical inactivity.
Therefore, prevention plays a central role – because the earlier we recognize a lack of exercise and actively counteract it, the better we can avoid long-term health consequences.
Prevention: Meaning and Definition
The term prevention originates from the Latin word praevenire, which means "to anticipate." Prevention refers to a measure intended to avert an undesirable state or situation. In the context of physical inactivity, prevention means taking targeted measures before health problems even arise.
In the medical and health policy fields, three levels of prevention are distinguished:
- Primary prevention is aimed at healthy people and begins before the onset of illness, with the goal of preventing it from developing at all. Measures here include, for example, back exercises for targeted muscle building and prevention of back pain, as well as the conscious integration of everyday movements such as cycling, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or going for walks.
- Secondary prevention aims at the early detection of diseases and the containment of their development. This includes, for example, regular check-ups and health screenings, as well as exercise and nutrition programs for people with existing risk factors such as overweight or back pain.
- Tertiary prevention includes measures that, after the onset of a disease, aim to positively influence its course and prevent chronification. For example, in the case of existing type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, regular physical activity is used to improve the quality of life through preventive measures.
Healthy eating is a preventive measure against health risks such as obesity.
Causes and Consequences of Physical Inactivity
A central cause of physical inactivity in everyday life is digitization and the accompanying increase in screen time. About 18 million people in Germany have an office job and therefore spend at least 8 hours a day sitting in front of a screen for work alone. But we also spend more and more of our free time online thanks to streaming services, social media, etc. – usually also while sitting.
In addition, everyday activities that used to require movement have now been automated or digitized: shopping can be done online, household appliances take over tasks, stairs are replaced by elevators... What once provided movement unnoticed is now optimized away.
The consequences of physical inactivity are far-reaching – both physically and psychologically. On a physical level, prolonged inactivity increases the risk for numerous health problems. Those who move too little have a significantly higher risk of high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, a heart attack, or a stroke, among other things.
People who move too little also more frequently report exhaustion, irritability, inner restlessness, and depressive moods. Chronic stress – especially in connection with hours of sitting and lack of physical compensation – is also significantly exacerbated by physical inactivity.
The good news is: Many of these health risks can be significantly reduced with relatively little effort. Even small but regular movements in everyday life can make a big difference preventively.
Prevention Through Movement
Our daily lives increasingly involve sitting. It's no longer a secret that those who move too little risk more than "just" back pain. It is all the more important not to act only when the body sounds the alarm, but to actively counteract physical inactivity and the associated health risks with preventive measures.
No time for exercise?
💡 In an AOK study from 2023 , over half of respondents (54%) indicate that they move too little. Two reasons particularly stand out:
- 49% cite lack of time, mainly due to professional obligations, as the main obstacle to more physical activity.
- Almost as many (47%) state that they simply have no desire or motivation to exercise regularly.
The figures clearly show that although knowledge about the importance of exercise exists, most people fail to actually integrate this knowledge into their daily lives.
Precisely for this reason, we at Aeris have made it our mission to bring movement exactly where we need it most: While sitting.
Our ergonomic Aeris office chairs specifically promote movement while sitting and thus contribute to the prevention of physical inactivity.
Prevention through movement at Aeris means:
Moving away from rigid sitting towards an active, healthy workday that strengthens the back, joints, and muscles while increasing well-being. Studies show that this not only improves physical health but also significantly increases concentration, performance, and productivity. Aeris makes it easy to live prevention every day – simply while sitting.
Health promotion must be suitable for everyday life. No extra detours, no complicated exercises – but movement that happens intuitively. Our Aeris chairs make exactly that possible. Thanks to their patented 3D technology, as with the Aeris Swopper, Aeris Numo Task, or the newest chair in the Aeris family, the Aeris Linu, rigid sitting positions become dynamic movement impulses – completely automatically, incidentally.
The gentle up and down and sideways movements stimulate circulation, promote blood flow, and activate muscles. This specifically strengthens back and abdominal muscles, which can effectively prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Even those who already suffer from back pain benefit: active sitting can help alleviate discomfort and prevent its worsening.
Corporate Health Promotion: More Movement at the Workplace
A rigid, immobile workplace is neither good for the back nor the mood in the long run. Those who want to be successful in the long term need healthy and satisfied employees who enjoy coming to work.
That's why prevention should start directly in the office, not just after work.
With the Aeris Active Office® workplace concept, we have developed a holistic solution approach in corporate health promotion: The concept actively responds to health burdens such as back pain and cardiovascular problems that arise from physical inactivity at the workplace and thus actively contributes to the physical, psychological, and social health of employees.
👉🏼 You can find more about this in our article Corporate Health Reimagined
Prevention Starts from an Early Age
Physical inactivity often starts early – at the latest when children begin school. That's why we developed the Aeris Swoppster, an active chair specifically for children. It supports natural movements, promotes a healthy posture, and thus helps prevent postural weaknesses and back problems even at a young age.
Prevention that's fun: The Aeris Swoppster children's desk chair keeps children actively moving even while sitting.
5 Tips for More Movement in Everyday Life
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1. Sit actively instead of passively
An ergonomic office chair keeps your body actively moving even while sitting. -
2. Use micro-breaks
Every 20-30 minutes, you should get up and move to promote daily activity. -
3. Standing alternatives
With the help of a height-adjustable desk, like the Aeris Active Desk, you bring more dynamism into your workday through small changes in position. -
4. Consciously incorporate movement
Stairs instead of the elevator, a short walk during lunch break, or even just the walk to the printer – every movement counts! -
5. Move early
The Aeris Swoppster playfully introduces movement into children's learning routine from an early age.
Whether in the office, at home, or on the go: those who consciously integrate movement into their daily lives gain more energy, well-being, and quality of life. Prevention against physical inactivity doesn't just begin with exercise, but literally with the first step – and the right chair. With Aeris, you stay in motion all day long, effortlessly and without extra effort.
