We are all aware of the importance of exercise, but new research indicates that even a modest amount of physical activity can have positive health effects. The University of Cambridge study determined that 11 minutes of daily physical activity could prevent 10% of all premature deaths.
Although the NHS recommends 150-300 minutes of exercise per week, the majority of people fail to meet this goal. However, according to the researchers, any amount of exercise is preferable to none, and doing half the recommended amount could prevent 1 out of every 20 cases of cardiovascular disease and 1 out of every 30 cases of cancer. This is equivalent to 11 minutes of physical activity per day, or 75 minutes per week. This may include cycling, walking, hiking, dancing, or tennis.
In addition to reducing body fat and blood pressure, regular exercise improves fitness, sleep, and heart health over time, according to the study. Certain cancers, including head-and-neck, gastric, leukaemia, and blood cancers, benefited even more from physical activity.
Unfortunately, many individuals struggle to meet the recommended amount of physical activity each week. The researchers recommend replacing certain inactive behaviours with active ones to make exercise more convenient. These include walking or cycling to work or the store rather than driving, as well as engaging in active play with children or grandchildren.
The most effective method for promoting physical activity is to make it enjoyable. Additionally, the NHS recommends that adults engage in muscle-strengthening activities twice per week, such as yoga, pilates, weightlifting, heavy gardening, and carrying heavy shopping bags.
The analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine concluded that if everyone in the studies had engaged in the recommended amount of physical activity per week, approximately one in six premature deaths could have been avoided.
This study offers a message of encouragement to those who struggle to meet the recommended amount of exercise per week. It suggests that even half the recommended amount of exercise can have significant health benefits, so everyone should aim to engage in at least 11 minutes of physical activity per day.
According to a new study from the University of Cambridge, 11 minutes of daily exercise could prevent 10% of premature deaths. Even half the recommended amount of exercise per week can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer by 17% and 7%, respectively, according to the findings of the study. The NHS recommends that adults engage in muscle-strengthening activities twice per week to further improve their health. However, many individuals find it difficult to exercise the recommended amount per week. Nonetheless, this research provides a message of encouragement to those who struggle to achieve this objective, as it indicates that even modest amounts of physical activity can have substantial health benefits.
