Vigorous exercise, the kind that
makes you sweat, get red in the face and breathe hard, may be better than
moderate exercise when it comes to living longer, researchers said Monday. The
study by Australian researchers is based on more than 200,000 adults over age
45, and is published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
Internal Medicine. The study participants were followed for more than six
years.
Those who did jogging, aerobics or
competitive tennis — vigorous exercise for 30 percent of their weekly workouts
— had a mortality rate that was nine to 13 percent lower than those who did
moderate exercise, like swimming, social tennis, or household chores. “The
benefits of vigorous activity applied to men and women of all ages, and were
independent of the total amount of time spent being active,” said lead author
Klaus Gebel from James Cook University’s Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention.
“The results indicate that whether
or not you are obese, and whether or not you have heart disease or diabetes, if
you can manage some vigorous activity it could offer significant benefits for
longevity.” Currently, the World Health Organization urges adults to do at
least 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week.
But the current research suggests
that given the choice, people should opt for some higher intensity exercise if
they can, and if their doctor agrees, the study authors said. “Our
research indicates that even small amounts of vigorous activity could help
reduce your risk of early death,” Gebel said. “For those with medical
conditions, for older people in general, and for those who have never done any
vigorous activity or exercise before, it’s always important to talk to a doctor
first.” Braveheartnija
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