This is a brief summary of the research study: Stamatakis, E., Ahmadi, M.N., Gill, J.M.R. et al. Association of wearable device-measured vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity with mortality. Nat Med 28, 2521–2529 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-022-02100-x
The Yolk
- Who was studied?
- 25,241 adult non-exercisers for approx. 6 years
- What was studied?
- Vigorous Intermittent Lifestyle Physical Activity (VILPA) – daily tasks including more intensive movement, but not exercise sessions
- VILPA v. all cause mortality
- VILPA v. cardiovascular mortality
- VILPA vs. cancer mortality
- Used wrist accelerometers (think FitBit) to measure
- What were the results?
- 3-4 total minutes of VILPA per day associated with lower all cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality
- 1 minute bursts contribute to the total amount
- The more activity, the better the result
Perspective
- Higher intensity movement is important, even if it’s short
- Add effort to daily tasks you have to do anyway
- Chasing your kids/grandkids
- Hauling lots of groceries (safely)
- Using the stairs rather at a brisk pace
- Adding a climb while hiking
- Biking intensely for a minute on a leisure ride
- One minute of any typical exercise – squats, push ups
- If you do already exercise – add intensity within the slower exercises
- Current activity guidelines should take into consideration a more accessible target, rather than “150-300” minutes which is daunting
Research & Resources
