Widely accepted guidelines for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity are called into question in a recent critical review published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.
For the review, researchers examined literature on the benefits and recommendations regarding physical activity. They determined the benefits of physical activity were overwhelming, displaying risk reductions of 20 to 30 percent for more than 25 chronic conditions, as well as premature mortality. While international guidelines recommend exercising 150 minutes per week, researchers found that about half of the suggested time could result in observable health benefits.
Darren E.R. Warburton, PhD, and Shannon S. Bredin, PhD, of the Cardiovascular Physiology and Rehabilitation Laboratory at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, authored the study.
Dr. Warburton and Dr. Bredin recommend public health policies be designed to reduce barriers to physical activity. They wrote, "The simple message of 'move more and sit less' likely is more understandable by contemporary society and is formed on the basis of a strong body of evidence."
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