When it comes to exercise, every 'brisk' minute adds up
Is it better to exercise longer or harder?
This is a question that health experts have long debated, but growing research is beginning to show that intensity trumps duration when it comes to weight loss - and a new study supports this idea even more.
Brief spurts count
Researchers from the University of Utah found that short episodes of exercise that met a specific level of intensity can effect weight loss just as positively as the current recommendations of 10 or more minutes of activity at a time.
"What we learned is that for preventing weight gain, the intensity of the activity matters more than duration," Jessie X. Fan, professor of family and consumer studies at the university, said in a statement.
According to current physical activity guidelines - which recommend that individuals get at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every week - fewer than 5 percent of American adults are moving enough, Fan said.
"Knowing that even short bouts of 'brisk' activity can add up to a positive effect is an encouraging message for promoting better health," he noted.
Higher-intensity activity was associated with a lower risk of obesity, even if those bouts of movement were fewer than 10 minutes long. This means activities like taking the stairs, parking at the far end of the lot or walking to the grocery store instead of driving really can add up over time, the researchers said.
Women less active than men
Results of the study may be especially important for women - females were found to be less active than men overall. Yet each daily minute of high-intensity activity was linked to a .07 decrease in BMI for females, which means the woman who adds short bouts of exercise to her routine will weight nearly a half-pound less and lower her risk for obesity by 5 percent.
When men engaged in these short activity bursts, they tended to exceed the recommended 150 minutes of exercise each week, accumulating about 246 minutes total and lowering their risk of obesity by 2 percent.
Source: The University of Utah
More Articles
With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.
Farro...
Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....
With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...
If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...
In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.
When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...
More Articles
If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....
For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.
A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...
According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...
Eleven Clinical Studies
After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...
Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...
Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...
Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...
Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...
Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....
When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...
Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.
The...
Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...
Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...
Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...
One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...