In a hot afternoon in northern Tanzania, a game of musical chairs with high stakes took place. The author stumbled back into camp, desperately looking for a seat. There was only one unoccupied camp chair, and it was taken by Onawasi, a respected elder who seemed to enjoy the situation. This experience led the author to question why chairs are so irresistible and how they affect our health.
The author and their research team spent their summer with the Hadza community, one of the last populations of hunter-gatherers in the world. The Hadza people have managed to avoid diseases like heart disease that are common in more industrialized societies. The team came equipped with technology to measure the movements and calorie burn of the Hadza as they went about their daily activities of hunting and gathering.
After a long morning in the heat and humidity, the author and their team were exhausted and craved to sit down. However, the camp chairs they brought with them were constantly occupied by Hadza visitors. This led the team to realize that they had much to learn from the Hadza about staying physically active and resting effectively.
Over the course of 10 years, the team would come to understand the implications of sitting too much and the importance of incorporating movement into our daily lives.
