Advantage from just ten minutes' exercise
Wednesday March 20th, 2019
Benefits for health begin even at very small amounts of physical activity, researchers report today.
Physical activity is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes
and overall mortality. However, only a minority of adults reach the World Health Organisation
guideline of 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, such as brisk
walking, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity exercise, such as running, or a combination
of both.
A research team at Shandong University, China, took information from national health surveys and death records over an 11 year period, covering 88,140 adults.
Analysis suggested that, compared with people who did no physical activity, those doing ten to 59 minutes of physical activity per week had 18% reduced risk of death from all causes. But cardiovascular mortality was not protected at this level.
Doing 150 to 299 minutes of physical activity a week - the recommended level - was linked to a 31% lower risk of death from all causes, as well as a significantly lowered risk of cardiovascular death.
Risks were reduced further with greater time spent on physical activity, and for vigorous versus moderate intensity activity.
Details appear in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Nevertheless, the researchers, led by Dr Bo Xi, admit that 1,500 minutes or more of physical activity per week “is difficult to achieve for a working adult”, adding: “Vigorous-intensity physical activity may be an attractive option for able-bodied individuals with limited time.”
Zhao, M. et al. Beneficial associations of low and large doses of leisure time physical activity with all-cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality: a national cohort study of 88,140 US adults. British Journal of Sports Medicine 20 March 2019; doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099254
http://bjsm.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099254
Tags: Asia | Fitness | General Health
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