Shine OnHealthiest workout might be a shorter, more vigorous one
Can't find time to workout? This study's for you.
Researchers from Queen's University have found that short, intense exercise sessions prove to be healthier than longer, more moderate sessions with an equal caloric burn.
The study -- published in the International Journal of Epidemiology -- found that activities like running and jumping reduced participants' risk of developing metabolic syndrome by two-thirds, compared with moderate activities like walking and leisurely bike rides that burned an equal number of calories.
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Metabolic syndrome are a set of health conditions that significantly increase your risk of coronary artery disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. Insulin resistance and extra weight around the middle — that dreaded 'belly fat' — are two major health conditions associated with the syndrome.
The researchers used data collected from 1,841 American adults, and while there was no cause-and-effect link proven, they suggest that vigorous physical activity should be emphasized in public health guidelines for exercise.
Currently, the non-profit organization Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology recommends "150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic physical activity per week, in bouts of 10 minutes or more" for Canadian adults aged 18-64.
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Avoiding metabolic syndrome isn't the only reason to amp up your exercise routine. One study found that gym goers who totaled 150 minutes of vigorous activity a week looked about 10 years younger than those who skip the gym altogether, while another study found that physical activity can cut the risk of breast cancer by up to 30 percent in older women at a healthy body weight.
Also in recent years, studies have determined that micro-exercise counts. Research out of the University of Birmingham's determined that three minutes of intense exercise, three times a week, could be the equivalent to five one-hour sessions, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
