Just this once, ignore what your mother told you and Start Fidgeting!

Those little things you do like tapping your toes, wiggling in your chair, standing up to stretch, getting up to change the channel probably seem like insignificant nothings, but a new study shows that these minor activities may actually make the difference between being lean and obese.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic recently undertook the most detailed study on the differences in obese and lean people by examining the role of “non-exercise activity thermogenesis,” NEAT, or calories burned during the activities of daily living. The results overwhelming showed that minor movements throughout the day provide enormous benefits to your waistline.

The study followed 10 obese and 10 thin participants, 24 hours a day for 10 days. Participants donned high-tech underwear resembling bicycle pants and sports bras or T-shirts embedded with sensors that take measurements every half-second. The underwear can detect the smallest tap of a top. Researchers also provided their meals during the study so they knew exactly how many calories each was ingesting.

Results of the study show that each day, the thin participants spent at least 150 more minutes moving in some way than their obese counterparts. This extra movement is enough to burn about 350 extra calories a day, which could amount to 10 to 30 pounds a year.

Using this data, researchers began to reduce the caloric intake of the obese subjects while raising that of the thin subjects. As the obese lost weight and the thin gained weight, movement remained the same, leading researchers to believe there is most likely a chemical difference in the brain that predisposes some to movement and others to sitting.

As the number of Americans who are overweight continues to climb, with more than two-thirds overweight or obese, the prospect of an epidemic of heart disease, diabetes, and other weight-related ills rises as well.

The study’s lead researcher, James A. Levine of the Mayo Clinic, says this study may provide the key to slowing the spread of obesity. “Some may say this is a story of doom and gloom—that people with obesity have no choice. I would argue exactly the opposite,” Levine said. “There’s a massive beacon of hope here. But it’s going to take a massive, top-down approach to change the environment in which we live to get us up and be lean again.”

Increasing Your Fidget Factor

So what can you do if you aren’t naturally inclined to fidget? The first step is simple. Take note of your behavior patterns. How long do you go without any real movement? What influences these periods of non-movement?

Then ask yourself where you can add in bits of movement. Instead of reaching for the channel changer, walk to the TV to change the channel. At work, set a timer for every 15 to 30 minutes and simply stand up and stretch. Have a question for a co-worker or a family member? Instead of calling them or sending an email, get up and walk to their office or room. Sit up straight instead of slouching in your chair. The possibilities are limitless.

By increasing their NEAT through minor, everyday movement, participants saw very little weight gain and actually burned 70 percent of the excess calories they ingested. Those who failed to activate their NEAT saw large fat gains.

Don’t let yourself fall victim to obesity. Take a quick inventory of your daily routine and then get moving! You might be surprised just how well this works!

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