Did you know that just two minutes of vigorous exercise per day may be enough to reduce your risk of dying young?
Experts say you don’t even need to do anything strenuous. They claim that simply walking up the stairs, running around the garden, or skipping is sufficient.
Scientists from the University of Sydney examined data from over 70,000 people, tracking their exercise levels for a week and their subsequent health over the next seven years.
People who did just 15 minutes of vigorous activity per week — or 2m 9s per day — were 18% less likely to die during the study period.
This was in comparison to those who only did two minutes per week.
‘The results show that accumulating vigorous activity in short bursts throughout the week can help us live longer,’ said lead author Dr Matthew Ahmadi.
‘Given that lack of time is the most commonly reported barrier to regular physical activity, accruing small amounts sporadically during the day may be a particularly attractive option for busy people.’
Adults should get 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week, spread out over four to five days.
Running, swimming, skipping, and walking up stairs are all examples of vigorous exercise.
This information was then compared to death or illness rates, such as heart disease or cancer.
According to findings published in the European Heart Journal, people who did no vigorous activity had a 4% overall risk of dying in the next five years.
The most intriguing finding, according to scientists, was regarding the smallest bouts of vigorous activity per day.
Those who did 53 minutes per week, or about seven and a half minutes per day, had a 36% lower chance of dying in five years than those who did two minutes per week.
Keeping fit can help prevent obesity and its associated health problems, such as type 2 diabetes and cancer. It can also help with bone strength and mental health.