Inactivity can be deadly and has been linked to a slew of diseases, but many Americans are still not getting any exercise.
Recent studies suggest the recommended 150-minute-a-week exercise target too far of a stretch for some and highlight the benefits of getting even well below this amount, the British Medical Journal reported.
The findings suggest we should be promoting the benefits of small increases in daily physical activity instead of pressuring people to meet set exercise recommendations.
A study of more than 250,000 U.S. adults between the ages of 50 and 71 found less than one hour of moderate physical activity or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise a week could reduce one's overall risk of mortality by 15 and 23 percent respectively. A review of six other studies found a 19-percent decrease in overall mortality risk in people who walked for between one and 74 minutes a week compared to those who did not participate in physical activity.
The findings suggest current policies and actions promoting physical activity should focus on those who are fully sedentary, and encourage these individuals to make "small incremental increases in physical activities in their daily life rather than reaching current recommendations," said Philipe de Souto Barreto at the University Hospital of Toulouse.
While achieving the recommended 150 minutes of weekly physical activity should remain a goal for most people, the findings point out older adults especially could find it difficult to meet these goals. Those who have trouble reaching this level of activity are encouraged to reduce sedentary time and increase light activity as much as possible.
"We are not proposing that the 150 minute a week standard be abandoned," the researchers wrote. "Rather, our purpose is to remind colleagues that a broad perspective to [counseling] is already embedded in the guidelines and that a whole data approach for older sedentary patients may help them move towards the recommended activity levels."
The findings were published recently in the British Medical Journal.
