Study Puts 30% Heart Risk Cut at 560-610 Weekly Minutes as Experts Defend 150-Minute Goal
Updated
Updated · Scientific American · May 21
Study Puts 30% Heart Risk Cut at 560-610 Weekly Minutes as Experts Defend 150-Minute Goal
5 articles · Updated · Scientific American · May 21
Data from 17,000 U.K. Biobank participants linked 560 to 610 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous weekly activity to about a 30% lower risk of heart attack or stroke.
Experts said the finding should not be read as a rebuke of WHO guidance, noting 150 minutes a week still corresponds to an 8% to 9% risk reduction and was meant as a practical public-health threshold.
They also argued the study may blur exercise intensity across ages and fitness levels, rely too heavily on just one week of accelerometer data, and overstate claims that less-fit people must exercise longer.
The broader takeaway, cardiologists said, is that any move from inactivity helps—walking, gardening or short intense bursts can deliver meaningful cardiovascular benefits.
Can a few minutes of daily intense exercise offer better heart protection than hours of moderate workouts?
Is the debate over exercise minutes ignoring how our modern environment limits physical activity?
Does your fitness level mean you need a different exercise plan than official guidelines suggest?