15 Sep 2014
Short bursts of exercise still bring impressive results for health and wellbeing: study
BY Chris Dodd
Exercise may not be the all or nothing health remedy some consider it to be, with brief bursts of moderate physical activity still contributing to increased longevity, according to a new study published by the Journal of American College of Cardiology.
Despite 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise still being the recommended minimum amount of weekly physical activity, the research found that just five minutes of aerobic exercise each day could cut risk of heart disease–related death by 45 per cent and other diseases by up to 30 per cent.
Specialists at the Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center observed 55,000 adults - who ran as a form of exercise - over a 15-year period.
It was discovered that there were significantly fewer heart issues and early deaths among all runners, even in those who jogged as little as 35 minutes each week, compared to people who didn’t run at all.
Another interesting finding showed that those who were least committed to running - for example producing 10-minute miles or slower - still tended to achieve similar health outcomes to the runners who exercised more often and at a greater pace.
The researchers said that running was just one way to achieve positive results and that the form of exercise would produce very similar outcomes to those who choose to exercise by riding a bike, going swimming or playing cardio-related sports like basketball.
Research alluding to the numerous health and wellbeing benefits from exercise is growing rapidly, with one report suggesting that fitness not food will help to solve the UK’s current obesity crisis.
Elsewhere, another study has shown that taking regular walks could help to increase how long we live for, while also helping to stave off and treat chronic illnesses.
In the UK, calls are also growing for the NHS to start offering exercise as a form of medical treatment to improve the wellbeing of patients by helping them to lose weight and combat worrying levels of inactivity.
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