Throw away the remote. Fire the maid. And never drive to work again. With a month of summer still left, now's not the time to throw away that swimsuit body that you've worked so hard to get.

Welcome TRUE’s newest members with a wink. Search now>>

A new study from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, proves that the real difference between people who are obese and those who are not is how often they stand up. Literally.

Researchers found that in an average day, obese people sit for 2.5 hours more than their lean peers. They burn 350 less calories per day. All else being equal, that translates to about 10 extra pounds per year.

"If you've ever gone to the gym and looked at the treadmill, 350 calories is no joke," says Dr. James A. Levine, the endocrinologist who led the study. "It's enough to account for who becomes obese and who does not."

In an age of NetFlicks, FreshDirect and Domino's, where you can order everything online and never leave your chair, the solution to the national obesity crisis might be as simple as walking out the door.

"Obesity may be more closely tied to activity levels than we ever imagined before," said Levine. And he's not talking marathons or even gym workouts. "The calories you burn in everyday activities can make a tremendous difference in your life," he insists.

Six years ago, Levine discovered something he calls NEAT, or Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis.

It describes the energy we expend in physical movement other than planned exercise. The new study measured the NEAT levels of 20 self-proclaimed couch potatoes, half of whom were obese.

Their mundane movements were tracked for 10 days. In case you're wondering how: All wore custom-made, data-collecting underwear. Each morning, the participants were measured at the clinic, where they received fresh underwear and all of their meals. The researchers found that the 10 lean participants all walked, paced, cleaned, cooked and stood more than the 10 obese subjects.

"One by one, these movements added up," Levine says. "But it's about more than wiggling your toes. It's about getting up out of your seat."

Taking the study further, the researchers sought to determine whether low NEAT levels were a cause of obesity or by-product. Once again, the participants donned the special underwear.

For two months, the thin subjects were overfed, each gaining about nine pounds, and the obese subjects were underfed, each losing about 17 pounds. Even though the subjects gained and lost weight, their daily movements did not change. This means our NEAT level seems to be hardwired into us.

Although NEAT may be genetic or established early in life, Levine is optimistic that with a little conscious learning, people can change their daily activity levels. He serves himself up as exhibit A. He contends his movement habits changed as a result of doing the study.

"Now, I'm addicted to standing up," he says. "People can change their lifestyles completely. I encourage everyone to just stand up and see how good it makes you feel. If people would just put a treadmill in front of their televisions and walk one mile per hour, it could completely change their health. The take-home message is get up, get up – and get up."

What makes you tick?

Find singles who really click with you! Take our free TRUE Personality test! What kind of personality are you? Do you tend to take charge or would you rather go with the flow? Are you an open book or are you shrouded in mystery? Understanding what makes you tick can help you find that magical click with others. Take TRUE Personality now!