Opinion by Leana S. Wen: With exercise, don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good
Interestingly, the researchers found that just half the recommended amount brings significant health benefits as well. Seventy-five minutes of moderate intensity activity a week, or about 11 minutes a day, was associated with a 17 percent reduction in cardiovascular death, 7 percent reduction in cancer and a 23 percent lower risk of early death.The authors estimate that if everyone engages in at least 75 minutes of exercise a week, approximately 1 in 10 early deaths could be averted.
The 75-minute finding is important. For people working multiple jobs and caring for kids and older parents, 150 minutes of exercise can seem daunting. For us clinicians, it’s helpful to tell patients that while more is better, just 15 minutes of exercise five times a week can have a meaningful impact.
People can get to that number by incorporating just a little more activity into their daily routines. For example, they can park a block away from work and then take the stairs instead of the elevator. Those with desk-based jobs can set notifications to get out of their chair a few times a day, and they could convert some video meetings to phone calls that can be taken while walking.Of course, those who are able to do more exercise shouldn’t limit themselves to only 75 minutes.
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