British Wrong To Think Moderate Exercise Is Better Than Vigorous Exercise

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Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology;  Public Health
Article Date: 10 Oct 2007 - 0:00 PST

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The majority of British people believe moderate activity is better for you than vigorous exercise, according to research carried out at the University of Exeter and the University Brunel (UK). The Brits say it is better for your health to go for a walk than to go out jogging or to take part in competitive sports. However, the majority of large studies have demonstrated that greater health benefits are achieved through vigorous activities, such as jogging, running and competitive sports.

This is the first study to look at attitudes to moderate and vigorous activity since the UK Government physical activity guidelines were altered during the 1990s.

You can read about this in the journal Preventive Medicine.

Adults used to be encouraged to do twenty to sixty minutes of vigorous exercise at least three times a week. Studies carried out in the 1990s showed that approximately 90% of adults in Britain thought vigorous exercise was needed to maintain and improve health and fitness. However, since 1995 the Department of Health changed things, telling people that 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week is better - moderate activity here means walking, doing housework and gardening.

In other words, British adults used to have the right idea - the government got them to have the wrong idea.

The researchers in this latest report believe this change in attitudes is undermining the country's health and is urging for evidence-based guidelines.

Dr Gary O'Donovan, University of Exeter, wrote "Time and time again, the largest and most robust studies have shown that vigorously active individuals live longer and enjoy a better quality of life than moderately active individuals and couch potatoes. It's extremely worrying that British adults now believe that a brief stroll and a bit of gardening is enough to make them fit and healthy. The challenge now is to amend Britain's physical activity guidelines so that they emphasize the role vigorous activity plays in fighting obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease."

Not only does vigorous regular exercise protect you from heart disease and diabetes, it also significantly reduces your chances of developing certain cancers. According to the researchers, you might be able to reduce your chances of developing breast cancer if you walk briskly for 30 minutes each day. However, you would need to do regular more vigorous exercise to make any headway in reducing your colorectal and prostate cancer risks.

The authors explain that policymakers should be more specific when offering guidelines - they should describe the dose-response relationship between exercise and health. "Brisk walking offers some health benefits, but jogging, running and other vigorous activities offer maximal protection from disease," Dr. O'Donovan writes. "Sedentary adults should complete a six- to twelve-week program of moderate exercise before beginning a program of vigorous exercise. Men older than 45 and women older than 55 should consult their GP before taking up vigorous exercise."

The survey was funded by the Sports Marketing Research Trust. It reveals that people are receptive to the government guidelines.

Examples of moderate activities (for healthy adults)

-- Brisk walking
-- Cycling at less than 10 mph
-- Mowing the lawn with a power mower

Examples of vigorous activities (for healthy adults)

-- Doubles tennis
-- Competitive badminton
-- Circuit training
-- Jogging and running

-- Preventive Medicine
-- Gary O'Donovan

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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