Short-cut to fitness?
Tuesday March 16th, 2010
Getting fit may not be as time-consuming as some people fear, according to a new study.
Bursts of high-intensity fitness may be just as good as activities such a jogging and cycling, physiologists say.
Canadian
researchers have branded their new technique High Intensity Interval Training.
Current advice suggests 30 minutes of exercise, such as brisk walking, three times a week.
But the Canadian technique cuts this to 20 minutes a day, according to a report in the Journal of Physiology.
Participants sprint for a minute on an exercise bike and then pause for a minute ten times.
Researchers said this was equivalent to ten hours of moderate cycling over two weeks.
Researcher Professor Martin Gibala, of McMaster University, Canada, said not having time was no longer an excuse.
He said: "While still a demanding form of training, the exercise protocol we used should be possible to do by the general public and you don't need more than an average exercise bike."
The Journal of Physiology March 15 2010, volume 588 issue 6, pp. 1011 1022.
* It's time for Britons to get fit, the UK's chief medical officer said yesterday.
Widespread "inactivity" is causing major harm and the problem has been ignored too long, Sir Liam Donaldson said in this last annual report.
Every
secondary school pupil in Britain could undergo fitness asssessments,
if the chief medical officer's recommendations were accepted.
Health professionals welcomed the proposals.
Calling for consistent guidelines on physical activity, Sir Liam said: "Inactivity pervades the country. It affects more people in England than the combined total of those who smoke, misuse alcohol or are obese. Being physically active is crucial to good health.
"If a medication existed that had a similar effect on preventing disease, it would be hailed as a miracle cure."
He added: "Studies indicate that approximately 61 per cent of men and 71 per cent of women over the age of 16 years failed to meet the minimum adult recommendation for physical activity.
"Inactivity increases the risk of more than six chronic diseases. This is of grave concern. Improving physical fitness in children helps build a lifelong habit of participation in physical activity.
"We must get our children moving to improve their future health."
Sir Liam's report also calls for an increased focus on rare diseases, including the appointment of a national clinical director and more research to develop medicines.
The Royal College of Nursing said Sir Liam's proposals would be hampered by a chronic shortage of school nurses.
Janet Davies, of the RCN, said: "Simple steps such as taking a walk every day can help people of all ages to maintain their physical and mental health. Children in particular must be encouraged to take part in physical activities - whether it is walking to and from school or engaging in competitive sports.
"School nurses can offer expert advice to children as soon as they start school to help and encourage healthy habits into adulthood."
Tags: Fitness | Heart Health | North America | UK News
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