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Physical activity is known to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer and other leading causes of death.
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| Physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease, cancer and other leading causes of death |
However, scientists have yet to determine what intensity of exercise is effective. Research results published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine show that 10% of premature deaths could be prevented if study participants performed moderate-intensity exercise such as brisk walking for 11 minutes a day; 1 in 6 premature deaths could be prevented if study participants did at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week. This is also the recommended level of the UK National Health Service (NHS).
Even half that amount of exercise (75 minutes a week, or less than 11 minutes a day) could prevent 10% of premature deaths. It would also reduce the risk of heart disease by 17% and cancer by 7%. For people who were very inactive, or not at all, 11 minutes of exercise a day could reduce the risk of premature death by 23%.
Soren Brage, an expert at the University of Cambridge in the UK (co-author of the study), said the results of the study were very useful. He recommended spending more than 10 minutes a day on physical activity, which could be as simple as getting off at a bus stop to walk or cycling home.
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