Physical inactivity is one of the biggest health risks of our time. If you want to prevent the negative consequences, you need to integrate more exercise into your everyday life. In this article, we show why prevention through movement is so important and how small changes in your everyday (working) life can have a big impact.
Why prevention against lack of exercise is so important
Physical inactivity has quietly but persistently crept into our modern lifestyle and firmly taken hold—quite literally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about one in four adults worldwide fails to meet the recommended level of daily physical activity.
When do we talk about physical inactivity?
Physical inactivity refers to a state in which the body is not sufficiently engaged in physical activity over extended periods. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines physical inactivity as not reaching the recommended minimum of 150 minutes of moderate activity per week for adults.
🚨 In simple terms, if you move actively less than 3-4 times a week, hardly integrate movement into your daily life, and spend most of your time sitting — you’re already in the zone of physical inactivity.
That’s why prevention is so important — the sooner we recognize physical inactivity and start moving, the easier it is to prevent long-term health issues.
Prevention: Meaning and definition
The term prevention originates from the Latin word praevenire which means to come before or to anticipate. Prevention refers to actions taken to avoid an undesirable condition or situation. In the context of physical inactivity, prevention means taking targeted steps before health issues can even arise.
In medicine and public health, prevention is typically divided into three levels:
- Primary prevention focuses on healthy individuals and aims to prevent diseases before they even develop. This includes proactive measures like back exercises to strengthen muscles and prevent back pain, as well as integrating everyday movement into daily life — like cycling, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, or simply going for a walk.
- Secondary prevention is all about early detection and stopping the progression of potential health issues. This includes regular health screenings and check-ups, as well as movement and nutrition programs for people with existing risk factors like obesity or back pain.
- Tertiary prevention comes into play after a disease has already developed. The goal is to positively influence the course of the disease and prevent it from becoming chronic. For example, people with type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure can significantly improve their quality of life through regular physical activity and targeted preventive strategies.
A healthy lifestyle is a preventative measure to avoid health risks such as obesity.
Causes and consequences of physical inactivity
One of the main reasons for physical inactivity in everyday life is digitalization and the rise in screen time. Around 18 million people in Germany work office jobs and spend at least 8 hours a day sitting in front of a screen — just for work. And in our free time? Thanks to streaming services, social media, and more, we’re spending increasing amounts of time online — usually sitting down as well.
On top of that, many daily activities that used to involve movement have been automated or digitalized. Shopping can now be done online, household tasks are taken over by smart devices, and stairs have been replaced by elevators. Activities that used to get us moving almost without thinking have now been "optimized away."
The consequences of physical inactivity are serious — both physically and mentally. On a physical level, prolonged inactivity significantly increases the risk of major health issues. People who don’t move enough are at a much higher risk of developing high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes.
People who move too little also frequently report feeling exhausted, irritable, restless, or emotionally low. Chronic stress — especially when combined with long hours of sitting and a lack of physical balance — is strongly amplified by a sedentary lifestyle.
The good news: You can make a big difference with just a little effort. Even small but regular movements throughout your day can have a huge preventive effect and greatly reduce many of these health risks.
Prevention through movement
Our everyday lives are increasingly spent sitting. It’s no secret: Sitting too much isn’t just about back pain anymore. The risks go far beyond that. That’s why it’s so important to act before your body starts sounding the alarm — by proactively preventing physical inactivity and the associated health risks.
Our ergonomic Aeris office chairs are designed to encourage movement while sitting — actively helping to prevent physical inactivity.
At Aeris, prevention through movement means moving away from rigid sitting and towards an active, healthy working day that strengthens the back, joints and muscles and at the same time increases well-being. Studies show that this not only improves physical health but also significantly boosts your concentration, performance and productivity . With Aeris, prevention becomes an easy part of everyday life — simply by sitting.
This is precisely why we at Aeris have made it our mission to bring movement exactly where we need it most: While sitting.
Health Promotion Needs to Fit Into Everyday Life. No extra trips, no complicated exercises — just movement that happens naturally and intuitively. That’s exactly what our Aeris chairs make possible. Unsere Aeris Stühle ermöglichen genau das. Thanks to its patented 3D technology, such as in the Aeris Swopper, Aeris Numo Task or the latest chair in the Aeris family, the Aeris Linu, rigid sitting positions are transformed into dynamic movement impulses - completely automatically and incidentally.
The gentle movements up and down and sideways get the circulation going, promote blood flow and activate the muscles. This strengthens the back and abdominal muscles, which can effectively prevent muscular and skeletal disorders. And for those already dealing with back pain: Active sitting can help relieve discomfort and prevent symptoms from getting worse.
Prevention starts from an early age
Physical inactivity often starts early - at the latest when children start school. That’s why we developed the children's desk chairAeris Swoppster an active chair designed especially for children. It supports natural movement, encourages healthy posture, and helps prevent poor posture and back problems from a young age.
Prevention that’s actually fun: The children's desk chair Aeris Swoppster keeps children moving — even while sitting.
5 tips for more movement in your everyday life
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1. Active instead of passive sitting
An ergonomic office chair keeps your body moving even while you sit. -
2. Use micro-breaks
Make it a habit to stand up and move every 20–30 minutes to increase daily activity. -
3. Incorporate standing options
A height-adjustable desk, like the Aeris Active Desk brings more movement into your workday with simple position changes. -
4. Add movement consciously
Take the stairs instead of the elevator, go for a quick walk during your lunch break, or simply get up to grab your printouts — every step counts! -
5. Start moving early
The Aeris Swoppster gets kids moving during learning — playful, easy, and effective.
Workplace health promotion: More movement at work
A rigid, motionless workspace is neither good for your back nor for your mood. Long-term success requires healthy, happy employees who actually enjoy coming to work.
That’s why prevention shouldn’t start after work — it should start right at the desk.
With the Aeris Active Office® concept, we’ve developed a holistic solution for workplace health promotion. This concept actively addresses the health challenges caused by physical inactivity at the workplace, like back pain and cardiovascular problems, and supports the physical, mental, and social well-being of your employees.
👉🏼 Learn more in our article Rethinking Corporate Health.
Whether you’re in the office, at home, or on the go — those who integrate movement into their daily lives will quickly experience more energy, well-being, and quality of life. Prevention doesn’t start with sports — it starts with the first step. And the right chair.With Aeris, you stay in motion all day long — effortlessly and without extra effort.
