560-610 minutes of exercise a week needed for substantial heart benefits
Current exercise guidelines are too low, suggest researchers Less fit individuals need to do more exercise to get the same benefits
Adults should aim to do between 560 and 610 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous physical activity to achieve a substantial reduction in the risk of heart attacks and stroke, suggest the findings of an observational study published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
This is between 3-4 times higher than the current public health recommendation that adults do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate to vigorous physical exercise such as brisk walking, running or cycling.
People who are less fit need to do slightly more exercise than those who are very fit to get the same cardiovascular benefits, the study suggests.
The researchers say that the current one-size fits-all advice on exercise may need to be changed and replaced with personalised targets according to an individual’s fitness level.
Cardiorespiratory fitness varies greatly and is a strong predictor of cardiovascular health. Low cardiorespiratory fitness is strongly associated with an increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and early death, the researchers point out.