For many people a new year means new resolutions. The best exercise people can do to be healthy was supposed to be covered in this story. There is a small problem. Stamatakis says that there is no such thing as the best exercise. He says it is probably clickbait if you see that headline. Scientists know that regular physical activity pays off in long-term health benefits. Recent work is showing a clearer picture of all the activities that can help. You don’t have to build a body like Arnold or crush marathons like Tigst. Not everyone has the time or money to join a gym or use special equipment. Stamatakis says that you don’t need to.
It might seem obvious that physical activity is good for you. News reports tout the benefits of exercise and governments worldwide try to get citizens to move. The United States has physical activity guidelines that show that 80% of adults aren’t doing enough. The guidelines suggest that adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week. How long should these sessions last? Lee says that they don’t know. Even a small amount of physical activity can be helpful. Lee and colleagues wrote in October that most of the studies underpinning the recommendations relied on self-reported data. Lee says people tend to remember exercises like running or swimming. It was difficult to document the many movements we take in a day that can improve health. Wearable technology has taken those missing movements out of the shadows. Scientists can collect mountains of in-depth data throughout a person’s day, such as step count, acceleration and heart rate, with fitting participants with tracking devices.
It would be easier for people to rack up physical activity if there were more sidewalks, trails, and bike paths. Stamatakis says the role of the environment is important. Lee agrees with it. She says that physical activity is more than a choice. Government policies affect how much we can do. She emphasizes that it doesn’t take much to get substantial health benefits. People are able to start at any level.
This article was inspired by: https://www.sciencenews.org/article/physical-activity-exercise-health-benefits