The new study, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that people who sit for long periods are more likely to die younger.
However, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) such as a brisk walk, jog, cycle, or even housework like cleaning windows, combats this risk.
As part of the study, experts examined data for 11,989 people over 50, with a 50/50 split between male and female, from Sweden, Norway and the US.
Participants wore activity trackers which measured their MVPA.
5,943 people spent fewer than 10.5 hours sedentary each day, while 6,042 spent 10.5 or more hours sedentary.
Over five years, 805 people (6.5%) in the study died.
The study showed that MPVA for 22 minutes every day offset the effects of too much sitting still, in an office or couch, and reduced the risk of death.
Author of the study, Edvard Sagelv, from the Arctic University of Norway, said: "In our study, we found that only those people doing more than 12 hours per day sitting had a higher risk of death.
"We are talking about any sitting behaviour - such as being in the office or watching TV for long periods of time.
"In our study, every minute higher MVPA showed a lower risk of death - meaning if people were doing less than 22 minutes (such as 10 minutes) there was still a lower risk of death.
"However, doing 22 minutes eliminated the higher risk of death from sedentary time,” Sagelv said.
"This means that if doing 22 minutes or more per day, there was no excess risk from sedentary time.
"And, if doing more than 22 minutes per day, there was a lower risk of death overall. Basically, the more the better," he added.
