Least-Fit Adults Need 30-50 More Weekly Minutes for Equal Heart-Risk Cuts, Study Finds
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 19
Least-Fit Adults Need 30-50 More Weekly Minutes for Equal Heart-Risk Cuts, Study Finds
12 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 19
17,000-plus UK Biobank participants showed the least-fit adults needed about 30-50 extra minutes of weekly moderate-to-vigorous exercise to match the cardiovascular risk reduction seen in the fittest.
150 minutes a week—the NHS baseline—was still linked to an 8-9% lower cardiovascular risk across fitness levels, based on roughly eight years of follow-up and more than 1,200 heart-related events.
370 minutes a week was needed for a 20% risk reduction among the least fit, versus 340 minutes for the fittest; for cuts above 30%, the gap widened to 610 versus 560 minutes.
Researchers said current guidelines offer a universal but modest safety margin and suggested future advice may distinguish between minimum activity for basic protection and higher volumes for optimal benefit.
Oxford professor Aiden Doherty called any public-health message centered on 560-610 minutes a week misguided, saying people should still target at least 150 minutes weekly because more activity helps but “every move counts.”
Why must the least fit exercise more for the same heart benefits as their fitter peers?
Are universal exercise goals failing the least fit, and is personalized advice the answer?
As AI designs our workouts, are we trading our health data privacy for better fitness?
Women Achieve 30% Heart Disease Risk Reduction with Half the Exercise: New Research Calls for Sex-Specific, Intensity-Focused Guidelines
Overview
Recent large-scale studies have revealed that exercise benefits men and women differently, with women needing significantly less activity than men to achieve similar reductions in heart disease risk. For example, women can reach a 30% lower risk with about 4 hours of exercise per week, while men require around 9 hours for the same benefit. These differences may be due to factors like sex hormones and muscle composition. Additionally, the intensity of exercise is crucial—short bursts of vigorous activity can be as effective as longer periods of moderate exercise, highlighting the importance of both sex and intensity in optimizing heart health.