Exercise Snacks as a Strategy to Interrupt Sedentary Behavior: A Systematic Review of Health Outcomes and Feasibility
Dan Iulian Alexe1, Sohom Saha2, Prashant Kumar Choudhary3
1Department of Physical and Occupational Therapy, "Vasile Alecsandri" University of Bacau, 600115 Bacau, Romania.
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)
|December 30, 2025
Summary
Exercise snacks, short bursts of activity, effectively combat sedentary behavior risks. This strategy improves metabolic health, cardiovascular function, and physical and cognitive performance across diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Prolonged sedentary behavior poses significant health risks.
- Exercise snacks offer a novel approach to mitigate these risks.
- Systematic review evaluating exercise snacks' effectiveness and feasibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the effectiveness of exercise snacks across metabolic, cardiovascular, cognitive, and functional health domains.
- Assess the feasibility and practical applicability of exercise snack interventions.
- Synthesize evidence from diverse populations, including healthy adults, older adults, and those with chronic conditions.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines.
- Searched major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL) for studies (2012-2025).
- Included RCTs, crossover trials, and feasibility studies; assessed quality using Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.
Main Results:
- Exercise snacks improved glucose, insulin, triglyceride levels, and blood pressure.
- Enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness, endothelial/cerebral blood flow, and cognitive function.
- Older adults showed gains in strength and mobility; high acceptability and adherence observed.
Conclusions:
- Exercise snacking is a time-efficient, feasible strategy to reduce sedentary behavior risks.
- Meaningful health benefits achieved through brief, frequent activity bouts.
- Future research needed to optimize protocols and assess long-term sustainability.
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