Scientists have come up with a plan for combatting the deadly effect of sitting behind a desk all day – and it doesn’t involve going to the gym.

A major study of data from a million men and women has found sitting for more than eight hours a day without taking exercise significantly increases the risk of dying early.

People in this group – which includes many thousands of office workers - are up to 60 per cent more likely to die prematurely than more active and less sedentary individuals.

Heart and artery disease and cancer are the two most likely causes of death linked to an inactive lifestyle.

It’s bleak news, but there is something that can be done.

The risk of death associated with sitting down for too long is “eliminated” by a minimum of one hour's moderate activity a day, such as brisk walking or cycling, the study’s authors say.

Even occasional visits to the coffee machine or water dispenser could help reduce the harm caused by sitting.

Lead scientist Professor Ulf Ekelund, from Cambridge University and the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences, said: "We found that at least one hour of physical activity per day, for example brisk walking or bike cycling, eliminates the association between sitting time and death.

"And you don't need to do sport, you don't need to go to the gym, it's OK doing some brisk walking maybe in the morning, during your lunchtime, after dinner in the evening. You can split it up over the day but you need to do at least one hour."

Acknowledging many people who commute to work and have office-based jobs cannot escape sitting for long periods of time, Prof Ekelund said any break in sedentary routine that built some activity into the day is a bonus.

He added: "Take a five minute break every hour, go to the next office, go upstairs to the coffee machine, go to the printer.

"Build physical activity in your everyday life. If possible, try to do some walking or active transportation to and from work."