A new University of Utah study highlights the health benefits of short bouts of brisk activity. Jessie Fan is a professor of family and consumer studies at the University and lead author of the study. She says higher intensity activity was associated with a lower risk of obesity.
“We found that as long as the intensity level is good, is of certain intensively level, like a brisk walk, then even shorter bouts, even one minute, two minutes of exercise, are very helpful in terms of maintaining healthy weight,” says Fan.
She says the news is especially good for busy people who want to lose weight but don’t think they have the time. Fan also says that fewer than 5 percent of American adults reach recommended levels of activity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention current guideline is for at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, or M-V-P-A, per week. In the U Study, that motion was measured by an accelerometer to eliminate any other unrelated factors such as Body Mass Index and caloric intake. The University study was published Sunday in the American Journal of Health Promotion.
