There are so many ways to be active – but how do you know if you’re getting enough of the right type of exercise? Does a gentle walk count, or do you need to be pushing limits and doing ultra-endurance challenges and gruelling HIT classes five times a week?
According to new research, when it comes to reaping health benefits, aiming for more moderate intensity exercise could be best.
Researchers from Cambridge University and Leicester University analysed data from more than 88,000 middle-aged adults – monitoring and calculating their activity volume and intensity, and following up on their health for an average period of 6.8 years after.
They found a higher total physical activity volume was strongly associated with a decreased cardiovascular disease risk. This risk was even lower (14 per cent lower) when moderate to vigorous exercise made up 20 per cent, rather than 10 per cent, of someone’s total physical activity.