The American Cancer Society has a message for Americans: Stand up.

Simply getting out of your office chair of off your couch and standing or taking a quick walk around the office or house can help people live longer, according to a recent study published in the July edition of American Journal of Epidemiology.

The study states: “It’s not just how much physical activity you get, but how much time you spend sitting that can affect your risk of death.”

The study results didn’t surprise Columbus Regional Healthcare System’s wellness program manager Dayton Preston, who said that excessive amounts of sitting contribute to a detrimental cycle of lethargy.

“The body is made to physically move,” Preston said. “And when we don’t do that, there’s a lot of repercussions. We’ve got a combination of many things that can, bottom line, impact not only length of life, but quality of life.”

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