Short bursts, not gentle efforts, will lengthen lifespan

Short spurts of vigorous exercise that get you out of breath are better than longer bouts of gentle exercise when it comes to preventing an early death.

Scientists followed more than 200,000 middle-aged men and women for six years and found that those who engaged in some kind of vigorous exercise such as jogging or aerobics lived longer on average than those who exercised gently. Researchers believe the effect was statistically significant, lowering the risk of premature death by between 9 and 13 per cent compared to those who undertook moderate exercise only, such as gentle swimming or housework.

The findings contradict the basic assumption of current health advice that two minutes of moderate exercise is roughly equivalent in terms of health benefits to one minute of vigorous exercise, said the researchers.

Melody Ding of the University of Sydney, a co-author of the study, said: “Our research indicates that encouraging vigorous activities may help to avoid preventable deaths at an earlier age.”

The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, found the benefits of vigorous exercise extended to those with weight problems and preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Lead researcher Dr Klaus Gebel, of James Cook University in Cairns, warned that people who do not exercise regularly should talk to their doctor first before considering an exercise regime of vigorous activity that could get them out of breath.

“Previous studies indicate that interval training with short bursts of vigorous effort is often manageable for older people, including those who are overweight or obese.”